UC-NRLF 


REMINISCENCES 


123d  REGIMENT,  N.Y.S.V. 


,  ;1VING     A     COMl'J.KTK 


HISTORY  OF  ITS  THREE  YEARS  SERVICE  IN  THE  WAR, 


SERGEANT  HENRY  C.  MORHOUS, 


To    which    is    added    an    Appendix,  containing  1h«    frame,  Com 
pany,    Date    of    Kit  list  me  lit,    and     Discharge 
ot  each   Man  i  u   (lie  Regiment. 


GREENWICH.  N,  Y. : 

PEOPLE'S   JOURNAL    BOOK    AND   JOB   OFFICE. 
L879. 


EEMINISCENCES 


BEGIMENT,  N.  Y.  S.  V 


CHAPTER    I. 

CALL  FOR  TROOPS  BY  THE  PRESIDENT— OLD  WASHINGTON  COUNTY  RE 
SPONDS—ENTHUSIASTIC  WAR  MEETING  AT  ARGYLE— PATRIOTIC  RES 
OLUTIONS—WAR  COMMITTEE— APPORTIONMENT  OF  COUNTY— A  FULL 
REGIMENT  RAISED— RENDEZVOUS  AT  SALEM— DEPARTURE  OE  THE 
REGIMENT— ARRIVAL  AT  WASHINGTON, 

MC'CLELLAN'S  campaign  before  Richmond  in  June  and 
July,  1862,  resulted  disastrously  to  our  army,  and  car 
ried  triumph  to  the  South  and  to  the  North  dismay.  The  pat 
riotic  but  umvarlike  enthusiasm  of  the  country,  which  had  hoped 
to  crush  the  Rebellion  ere  this,  was  temporarily  stifled.  But  the 
chill  was  only  like  that  of  the  first  stealthy  drops  of  the  thunder 
gusts  upon  a  raging  lire,  which  breaks  out  anew  and  with  increased 
vigor  when  the  tempest  fans  it  with  its  furv,  and  now  burns  in 
spite  of  a  deluge  of  rain.  From  the  great  centres  of  national  life 
went  forth  warm  currents  of  renovating  public  opinion,  which 
reached  into  every  hamlet  and  village  in  the  North.  Every  true 
man  was  grasping  the  stirring  questions  of  the  day,  and  was  dis- 


M157149 


4  RKMTXISCKXCKS    OF 

cussing  them  with  his  family  at  his  own  fireside,  and  the  Rebel 
lion  was  doomed.  In  a  deeper  and  broader  sense  than  ever  be 
fore  the  country  was  rising  to  meet  the  emergency,  and  Northern 
patriotism,  now  thoroughly  aroused,  was  sweeping  everything 
before  it.  Everywhere  resounded  the  cry  "To  arms!"  and  thou 
sands  were  responding  to  the  President's  generous  call  for  300,000 
troops  July  1st.  1862. 

It  was  under  these  trying  circumstances  that  the  citizens  of 
Washington  Count}-,  feeling  that  the  hour  for  prompt  action  had 
come,  assembled  at  Argyle  in  mass  convention  July  22,  1862.  to 
make  arrangements  for  the  raising  of  her  quota  under  the  call. 

The  Convention  was  called  to  order  by  Hon.  K.  Dodd  of  Ar 
gyle,  who  nominated  Hon.  C.  I,.  Allen,  of  Salem,  as  Chairman, 
who  on  taking  the  chair  addressed  the  Convention  in  a  stirring 
and  patriotic  address.  On  motion  of  Hon.  Charles  Hughes,  the 
following  gentlemen  were  unanimously  elected  as  officers  of  the 
Convention  : 

PRESIDKNT — Hon.  C.   I,  Allen.  Salem. 

VICE-PRESIDENTS — R.  G.  Hall,  Argyle;  Trios.  Shiiand,  Cam 
bridge  ;  Charles  Benjamin,  Dresden  :  Adam  Cottrell,  Faston  ; 
Alanson  Axtell,  Fort  Ann  :  E.  R.  Nash,  Fort  Edward  ;  P.  H. 
Neher,  Granville  :  Simon  Pratt,  Greenwich;  F.  Farewell,  Hamp 
ton  ;  J.  M.  Northup,  Hartford  ;  I).  C.  ].  White,  Hebron  :  Peter 
Hill,  Jackson;  Charles  Rogers,  Kingsbury  ;  Robert  Patterson, 
Putnam  ;  John  McDonald.  Salem  ;  }.  }.  Gray,  Whitecreek  ;  Mi 
chael  J.  Myers,  Whitehall. 

SECRETARIES — A.  H.  'Fanner,  Whitehall  :  D.  B.  Cole.  Salem  : 
Alonzo  'F.  Mason,  Greenwich. 

The  Convention  adjourned  for  an  hour,  and  on  being  called  to 
order  by  the  President,  he  announced  that  there  were  present 
several  survivors  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  they  were  given  a  posi 
tion  on  the  platform. 

Hon.  F.  Dodd,  chairman  of  War  Committee,  offered  several 
rcsoultions. 


THF.    I23D    R  KG  I M  EXT. 

After  the  must  unanimous  and  enthusiastic  adoption  of  the 
resolutions  by  the  Convention,  the  President  introduced  the  Rev. 
Hen n"  Gordon  of  Coila. 

The  soul-stirring  and  patriotic  address  of  this  gentleman  aroused 
the  patriotism  of  even  the  most  sluggish.  Among  other  things 
lie  declared  that  he  had  taken  the  blanket  from  his  own  head 
und  given  to  a  volunteer  to  prevent  him  from  shivering  with  cold, 
lie  had  a  few  things  left,  which  were  at  the  disposal  of  the  Wai- 
Committee  if  necessary.  He  had  a  horse,  and  they  might  tax 
even- tooth  in  his  head,  and  then  if  that  was  not  sufficient,  every 
hair  in  his  tail.  The  whole  address  was  characterized  by  vigor- 
mis  argument  and  impulsive  eloquence,  that  reminded  one  of 
tiie  speeches  of  C'urran  and  O'Connell. 

After  the  conclusion  of  this  speech,  Hon.  Joseph  Potter  of 
Whitehall  \vas  loudly  called  for.  and  came  forward  amid  loud 
applause.  He  believed  the  Rebellion  could  and  would  be  put 
down,  and  lie  should  believe  it  until  he  could  be  convinced  that 
Shivery  made  brave  men.  and  Freedom  made  cowards.  livery 
one  must  do  something;  if  they  could  light,  FIGHT:  if  they  could 
better  pay.  let  them  PAY:  and  if  they  can  pray,  let  them  PRAY. 

Isaac  \V.  Thompson  of  Granville  followed,  and  after  "Dixie/' 
bv  the  Ft.  Edward  band.  Rev.  Dr.  Lambert  was  introduced,  and 
he  was  followed  by  Hon.  Charles  Hughes  and  a  Mr.  Fowler. 

After  these  stirring  addresses  the  following  resolutions  were 
passed  : 

RKSOLVKD,     That  we  will  raise  a  Regiment  in  Washington  Co. 

RESOLVED,  That  A.  L.  McDouga.ll,  Ksq.,  be  nominated  as 
Colonel  of  the  Regiment. 

RKSOLYKD.  That  the  cam])  or  depot  for  the  Washington  County 
Regiment  be  located  at  the  village  of  Salem,  on  the  County  Fair 
Grounds,  upon  condition  that  the  buildings  be  erected  within 
twenty  days,  the  fence  built  and  the  grounds  finished,  all  without 
expense  to  the  State  or  Countv. 


6  REMIX  ISC  KXCKS    OF 

RESOLVED,  That  [ames  C.  Rogers  be  nominated  for  Major  of 
the  Regiment. 

RESOLVED,  That  Rev.  Henry  Gordon  he  nominated  as  Chap 
lain  of  the  Regiment. 

The  following  gentlemen  composed  the  War  Committee  : 

Hon.  E.  Dodd,  Oliver  Bascom,  William  Coleman,  Charles 
Hughes,  John  T.  Masters,  A.  L.  McDougall,  J.  M.  Stevenson, 
R.  Richards,  Edwin  Andrews,  Joseph  Potter. 

'Hie  following  committees  were  appointed  to  aid  in  enlisting 
volunteers  in  the  several  towns: 

AKGYLE — Alexander  Barkley,  John  Gillis,  James  Hall,  C.  G 
Marsha,  J.  McCall,  E.  Hill,  W.  I).  Robertson,  WTm.  Lendrum, 
Henry  Shepherd,  Wm.  Clapp,  T.  McN.  Congdon. 

CAMBRIDGE- — E.  McKie,  A.  Ingraham,  f.  S.  Hall,  Abel  S. 
Webb,  C.  Skinner. 

DRESDEN — A.  A.  Hulett,  T.  Slight,  ().   L.  Steere. 

EASTOX — Seneca  Gifford,  Henry  S.  Crandall,  Lewis  Potter, 
J.  M.  Eddy,  Henry  Smith.  S.  Battle,  L.  Gifford,  Adam  Cottrell. 
Dr.  J.  Cipperly. 

FORT  ANN — C.  Adams,  Sidney  D.  E.  Golyer,  ).  M.  Harriett, 
George  Clements,  S.  V.  Pike,  W.  Swift,  S.  B.  Corning,  G.  1, 
Stevens,  I.  Clements, 

FORT  F^DWARD^ — Geo.  Bradley,  Geo.  Satteriee.  Daniel  'I'.  Payne. 
William  Durkee,  William  Robinson. 

GRAXVILLE — ().  F.  Thompson,  M.  Utter,  R.  G.  Dayton,  Na 
thaniel  Mason,  B.  F.  Ottarson. 

GREENWICH — Moses  Wrhite,  Morgan  Heath,  Abram  Reynolds, 
A.  Lendrum,  Robert  Alexander,  Alex.  Cherry,  J.  I.  Lourie,  S. 
I,  Stillman,  Jr.,  D.  C,  Bodge,  Perry  M.  Selleck,  Harvey  Reid. 

HARTEORD— J.  P.  Wood,  J.  M.  Northup,  J.  SilK  W.  H.  Brown. 
Milo  Ingalsbe. 

HAMPTON — A.  Dailey,  A.  R.  Broughton,  J.  Green,  Hiram 
Hotchkiss,  Thomas  Manchester. 

HEBROX — C.  G.  White,  J.  M.  Rea,  S.  E.  Spoor,  Nathaniel 
Reynolds,  J.  S.  McFarland. 

JACKSON — William  Thompson,  Benjamin  C.  Bishop,  A.  W. 
McLean,  'Thomas  B.  Lourie. 

KINGSBURY — Guy  W.  Clark,  A.  Freeman,  G.  I.  Stone,  Jr., 
Walden  E.  Richards,  A.  F.  Hitchcock. 

PUTNAM — A.  Hulett,  W.  G.  Corbett,  R,  Craig. 


THF.    123!)    RFXiLMKNT. 

SALEM— T.  H.  Walker.  ).  M.  Williams.  1)  Woodard.  W. 
Law.  John  King. 

WHITECREEK— S.  K.  Sweet,  R.  C.  Nicholson.  M.  P.  Barton. 
].  Van  Rensselaer.  H,  C'.  Gray,  Jr. 

WHITEHALL— E.  F,  Davis,  "s.  T.  Cook,  I.  Doren.  J.  F.  Bil- 
Ictt.  G.  A.  Hall.  T.  Cowan,  J.  P.  Blakeslee. 

'I'he  countv  was  apportioned  into  ten  company  districts,  as 
follows  : 

Na  i — Pmnam,  Dresden,  Fort  Ann.  2 — Whitehall.  3 — 
Hampton,  Granville.  4 — Hartford,  Hebron.  5 — Kingsbury. 
6— Fort  Edward,  Argvle.  7 — Salem.  8 — Cambridge  and  south 
half  of  Easton.  9 — Greenwich  and  north  half  of  Easton.  10 
— Whitecreek  and  Jackson. 

The  following  were  designated  captains  by  the  War  Committee: 

Dist.  No.  5 — Geo.  W.  Warren.  No.  6 — S.  R.  Potter.  Xo. 
8 — O.  S.  Hall.  Xo.  9 — Abram  Reynolds.  Xo.  10 — Henry  C. 
Gray.  Jr. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  authorized  to  recruit:  George 
Robinson,  Argvle  :  Harlan  P.  Wait.  Hartford. 

Enthusiastic  war  meetings  were  held  in  other  towns  in  the 
county,  and  the  enlisting  of  men  was  pushed  rapidly  forward. 
The  raising  of  a  Regiment  in  this  county  was  more  than  her  pro 
portion  of  the  full  quota,  but  the  people  were  thoroughly  aroused. 
To  the  town  of  Greenwich  and  the  north  half  of  Easton  belonged 
the  honor  of  taking  the  right  of  the  Regiment,  being  the  first  to 
fill  ii]i  her  quota. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  War  Committee  the  following 
additional  appointments  were  made  :  Quartermaster,  John  King, 
Salem  ;  Surgeon,  Dr.  Clark,  Sandy  Hill  ;  Assistant  Surgeon,  Dr. 
Kennedy,  North  Whitccreek  ;  Assistant  Quartermaster,  diaries 
Warner,  Whitecreek.  Col.  McDougall  appointed  George  H. 
Wallace  Adjutant  of  the  Regiment. 

The  Regiment  rendezvoused  at  the  Fair  Grounds  in  Salem, 
the  camp  being  designated  as  "Camp  Washington,"  and  was 
mustered  into  the  I'nited  States  service  Sept.  4th,  1862. 


R  K M I N I SC  E XC ES    ()  F 

[n  obedience  to  orders  from  the  Adjutant  General,  the  1230! 
Regiment  broke  camp  September  5th,  1862,  and  took  their  de 
parture  for  Washington.  The  embarkation  of  the  troops  on 
board  the  cars  and  the  departure  from  the  depot  was  delayed  until 
about  i o  o'clock  in  the  evening,  at  which  time  the  Regiment  left 
amid  the  shouts  and  cheers  of  the  immense  throng  of  people, 
who  had  assembled  to  testify  their  respect  for  and  interest  in  this 
noble  offering  of  the  patriotic  sons  of  old  Washington  County. 

Just  before  leaving  camp  the  colors  were  presented  to  the  Reg 
iment,  Co  C  of  Whitehall  being  color  company.  The  day  be 
fore  the  departure  of  the  Regiment,  Hon.  f.  I.  Lourie,  on  behalf 
of  the  citizens  of  Greenwich,  in  a  neat  and  appropriate  speech, 
presented  to  Capt.  Abram  Reynolds  and  Lieuts.  James  C.  Shaw 
and  Alonzo  T.  Mason  each  an  elegant  sword.  Similar  presen 
tations  were  made  to  other  officers  of  the  Regiment. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  officers  that  went  out  with  the 
Regiment  : 

FiELJ)    AM)    STAFF    OFFICERS. 

Colonel,   A.    L.    McDougall,    Salem;   Lieut  .-Colon  el,    Frank 

Norton,  (in  the  field);  Major,  James  C.  Rogers,  (in  the  field);  Ad 
jutant,  George  H.  Wallace;  Quartermaster,  John  King,  Salem; 
Surgeon,  John  Moneypenny;  First  Assistant  Surgeon,  L.  W. 
Kennedy,  Cambridge ;  Second  Assistant  Surgeon,  Richard  S. 
Connolly,  Faston  ;  Chaplain,  Henry  Gordon,  Cambridge ;  Ser 
geant  Major,  Walter  L.  Martin,  Fort  Ann ;  Quartermaster 
Sergeant,  Charles  I).  Warner ;  Commissary  Sergeant,  Clark 
Rice ;  Hospital  Stewart,  Leonard  Corning,  Fort  Ann  ;  Clerk,  A. 
A.  Buell.  Whitehall. 

COMPANY    OFFICERS. 

A — Captain,  Abram  Reynolds,  Batten ville ;  First  Lieutenant, 
Alonzo  T.  Mason,  Greenwich  ;  Second  Lieutenant,  James  C. 
Shaw,  Fast  Greenwich. 

B — Captain,  George  W.  Warren,  Sandy  Hill ;  First  Lieu 
tenant,  James  Warren,  Sandy  Hill ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Samuel 
C.  Burton,  Sandv  Hill. 


THK     IZ^I)    REGIMENT.  V 

C  -  -  Captain,  Adoiphus  H.  Tanner,  Whitehall  ;  First  Lieutenant, 
Walter  (i.  Warner,  Whitehall  ;  Second  Lieutenant,  John  C.  Cor- 
bett,  \Vliitehal!. 

I')---C'apiain.  John  Barroii,  Fort  Ann;  First  Lieutenant,  Alex. 
Anderson,  Putnam:  Second  Lieutenant,  Fdward  P.  Ouinn, 
Fort  Ann. 

V.  Captain,  \Y.  \\'.  Weer,  Hartford:  First  Lieutenant,  (ieo. 
l\.  Hall,  Hebron:  Second  Lieutenant,  Seth  C.  Carey,  Belcher. 

F— -Captain,  Duncan  Robertson,  Argyle:  First  Lieutenant, 
Donald  Reid,  Lake:  Second  Lieutenant,  George  Robinson,  Ar- 

gyle. 

(j—  Captain,  H.  C  .  Gray,  jr.,  North  \\  hitecreek;  Hrst  Lieuten 
ant,  )anies  Hill.  Coiia:  Second  Lieutenant,  Charles  Archer, 
North  Whitecreek. 

H — Captain,  jolin  S.  Crarv,  Salem:  First  Lieutenant,  Ben 
jamin  Flliott,  Salem:  Second  Lieutenant,  Josiah  H.  C'ulver,  Sa 
lem. 

1— C'aptain,  (  >rrin  S.  Hall,  Centre  Cambridge;  First  Lieuten 
ant,  .Marcus  Beaclle.  Soutli  Kaston:  Second  Lieutenant,  Albert 
Shiland,  Centre  C'ambrid^e. 

K  Captain.  Hem\  ().  \\ile\.  North  (iranviHe;  1'irst  Lieu- 
lenani.  llii'am  (  ).  \\'arren.  1  lampion:  Sec'ond  Lieutenant,  (ieo. 
\Y.  l>aker.  Middle  Gran ville. 

The  Regiment  reached  Ne\v  \'ork  about  3  o'clock,  on  the 
morning  of  the  6th  of  September.  Saturday,  and  marched 
through  Broadway  to  City  Hall  Park,  where  they  remained  until 
S  o'clock  next  day  afternoon,  when  they  took  the  steamer  Trans 
port  for  Amboy.  and  there  took  the  cars  for  Camden.  They 
\vere  ferried  over  the  Delaware  river  at  this  point  to  Philadelphia, 
where  thev  found  breakfast  awaiting  them  at  the  Cooper  Shop 
Volunteer  Refreshment  Saloon.  This  eating  house  was  estab 
lished  on  Otsego  street,  below  Washington  Avenue,  in  May, 
iSfu,  and  in  one  year  furnished  meals  free  to  87,513  soldiers  on 
their  way  to  the  front.  The  building  was  larsje  enough  to  ad 
mit  of  a  whole  regiment  eating  at  once.  After  a  heart}-  break 
fast  the  regiment  marched  up  Washington  street  to  the  Park  and 
after  resting  awhile,  started  for  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  depot. 


IO  REMINISCENCES    OK 

The  regiment  reached  Baltimore  about  6  o'clock  i>.  .M.  Alight 
ing  from  the  cars  they  started  for  the  Washington  depot,  their 
march  leading  them  through  the  principal  streets  of  the  city, 
therein"  giving  them  a  good  view  of  the  public  buildings  and 
business  portion  of  the  city.  Remembering  the  reception  given 
the  Massachusetts  troops  at  this  place,  the  hovs  were  agreeably 
surprised  on  reaching  Washington  depot  to  find  awaiting  them  a 
substantial  meal,  prepared  by  the  patriotic  citi/ens  of  Baltimore. 

Again  taking  the  cars  they  reached  Washington  in  due  time 
and  were  marched  to  ('amp  Chase,  on  Capitol  Hill,  where  was 
commenced  the  real  life  of  a  soldier.  The  camp  ^'as  laid  out 
in  company  streets,  the  little  shelter  tents  put  up  and  a  strong 
guard  placed  around  camp.  No  soldier  was  allowed  to  go  out 
side  the  cam})  limits,  and  especially  into  the  city,  without  a  pass 
from  the  commanding  officer. 

The  ride  from  Salem  to  Washington  was  a  grand  excursion  for 
the  boys,  and  they  enjoyed  it  most  heartily.  But  to  one  poor 
soldier  it  was  his  last.  Kvander  Burtis,  a  soldier  in  Co.  A,  from 
Greenwich,  was  taken  sick  while  on  the  way  and  left  in  the  hos 
pital  at  Philadelphia,  where  he  died  on  the  yth  of  September, 
1862.  His  remains  were  taken  home  and  deposited  in  the  beau 
tiful  Cemetery  at  Salem.  He  was  the  last  man  who  enlisted  in 
the  company  and  the  first  one  to  die. 


T  H  K     I23T)    K  KG  I M  K  XT. 


I  1 


AT  CAMP  CHASE— MARCH  TO  ARLINGTON— AT  FREDERICK  CITY,  MD.— 
INT  CAMP  AT  PLEASANT  VALLEY  AND  LOUDON  VALLEY— MARCH  TO  THE 
OCCOQUAN— IN  CAMP  AT  FAIRFAX  STATION. 

"1()()N  after  reaching  Capitol  Hill  the  boys  received  their  first 
army  rations,  consisting  of  beef,  rice,  beans,  bread,  coffee, 
sugar,  salt  and  vinegar,  and  also  their  guns  and  accoutrements. 
The  first  accident  in  the  Regiment  occurred  September  nth. 
Charles  Lnpoint.  of  Co.  A,  was  wounded  by  a  shot  from  a  Colt's 
revolver  in  the  hands  of  Benjamin  Rodier  of  the  same  company. 
They  were  sitting  down  about  three  feet  apart.  Rodier  held  the 
pistol  in  the  right  hand,  was  turning  the  cylinder  with  the  left. 
when  the  pistol  went  oft  Lapoint  was  sitting  sideways  to  Ro 
dier,  and  received  the  shot  in  the  right  side.  The  ball  passed 
about  seven  inches  under  the  skin,  and  lodged  against  the  skin 
cm  the  "posterior  aspect"  of  the  body.  The  ball  was  extracted 
and  he  was  properlv  cared  for  bv  Drs.  Connolly  and  Kennedy. 

While  at  Camp  Chase  ('apt.  Reynolds  was  appointed  (Quarter- 
mater  in  place  of  John  King,  who  resigned  October  25th.  This 
gave  Lieut.  Mason  the  command  of  the  company.  ist  Lieut. 
Walter  ( ).  Warner  of  Co.  C  also  went  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Paul. 
Brigade  commander,  about  the  i  9th  of  September. 


12  REM INISCE X C ES    O F 

Until  the  lyth  of  September  the  Regiment  remained  in  camp 
on  Capitol  Hill  drilling  and  equipping  and  doing  camp  guard 
dtitv.  On  the  morning  of  the  above  date  orders  came  to  strike 
tents.  Without  one  dissenting  voice  this  order  \vas  enthusiastic 
ally  received  and  obeyed.  The  Regiment  filed  out  of  Camp 
Chase,  and  with  drums  beating  and  colors  living1  marched  down 
Pennsylvania  Avenue  and  across  the  Potomac  river  via  Long 
Bridge,  and  reached  Arlington  Heights  about  2  o'clock  r.  M.  , 
footsore  and  weary,  and  camped  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Arlington 
House,  on  a  ridge  commanding  a  splendid  view  of  the  Potomac 
and  the  surrounding  country.  This  place  of  historical  interest 
was  well  calculated  to  awaken  the  enthusiasm  of  young  soldiers, 
and  to  recall  the  patriotism  and  noble  life  of  him  who  stands 
before  the  civilized  world  the  epitome  of  soldier,  patriot  and 
Christian. 

The  march  from  Camp  Chase  to  Arlington  was  not  over  six 
or  eight  miles,  and  many  of  the  boys  in  looking  back  to  thai  first 
march,  and  remembering  their  ( ieorgia  and  Carolina  inarches, 
will  laugh  \\iien  the\"  think  of  their  falling  out  by  the  wayside 
from  sheer  exhaustion.  Hut  the  day  was  dreadfully  hot.  and 
even-  soldier  was  loaded  down  with  many  things  then  considered 
indispensable,  but  which  experience  taught  them  they  could  not 
carry. 

The  Regiment  remained  on  Arlington  Heights  drilling,  doing 
guard  duty,  clearing  off  camp  grounds,  oic. ,  until  the  29th  of 
September.  Here  it  was  the  bovs  made  their  first  effort  at  wash 
ing  shirts  and  stockings.  They  got  along  verv  well,  however,  the 
starching  and  ironing  being  dispensed  with.  It  may  be  their 
washing  would  not  have  been  acceptable  to  the  mothers  and  sis 
ters  at  home,  but  the  boys  were  satisfied.  Their  favorite  wash 
ing  place  was  in  a  small  stream,  about  one  mile  from  camp,  on 
the  Leesburgh  turnpike.  In  going  to  their  washing  grounds 
one  dav  thev  discovered,  in  a  lonelv  hollow  below  Fort  Richard- 


THK     I2JI)     RKGiMKNT.  13 

son,  a  soldier's  grave.  There  was  nothing  to  mark  the  spot; 
and  a  soldier  in  speaking  of  it  said  that  he  never  passed  the 
lonely  spot  without  praying  that  his  fate  might  not  be  like  the 
one  buried  there — away  from  home  and  loved  ones — perhaps 
forgotten. 

September  2cjth  orders  came  to  march,  and  instructions  were 
given  the  boys  to  take  only  an  overcoat  or  blanket,  one  piece  of 
shelter  tent,  haversack,  canteen,  gun,  and  forty  rounds  of  cart 
ridges.  About  sundown  the  Regiment  marched  out  of  camp, 
down  to  the  Potomac,  across  the  Long  Bridge  and  through  the 
City  of  Washington  to  the  depot.  The  cars  not  being  ready  the 
Regiment  marched  up  a  street,  and  some  of  the  boys  wrapped 
their  blankets  around  them  and  lay  down  on  the  sidewalk  and 
slept  until  nearly  morning,  while  others  took  a  stroll  around  the 
Citv.  Some  of  them  went  into  a  store  where  the  music  of  a  vio 
lin  was  heard,  and  a  lively  time  they  had  dancing  for  a  few  mo 
ments,  when  crash  went  the  floor,  falling  a  distance  of  three  or 
four  feet  to  the  ground.  Fortunately  none  were  hurt,  and  the 
boys  crawled  out  and  sought  fun  elsewhere.  About  daylight 
they  were  marched  to  the  depot  and  boarded  the  cars  for  Freder 
ick  City,  Md.  The  cars  were  large  freight  cars,  and  from  thirty 
to  forty  soldiers  were  placed  in  each.  About  8  o'clock  the  train 
started,  making  some  thirty  miles  an  hour.  The  road  from 
the  Relay  House  for  several  miles  resembles  the  G.  &  J.  R.  R. 
very  much,  continually  winding  between  the  hills.  It  follows  a 
beautiful  stream,  the  Patapsco  ;  Mount  Airy  is  the  summit;  after 
wards  it  descends  the  slope  towards  the  IMonocacy. 

The  train  reached  Frederick  City  about  dark,  after  having 
made  several  stops,  and  the  Regiment  remained  during  the  night 
near  the  village.  At  the  time  the  regiment  was  there  Frederick 
City  was  a  fine  place  of  8,000  inhabitants,  well  built,  health}-,  and 
the  water  equal  to  that  of  our  own  Washington  County.  The 


14  KK.MIXISrKXCKS    OK 

next  morning  die  Regiment  marched  about  two  miles  nut  <>(  the 
place  and  camped  for  two  days,  when  orders  came  to  march. 

Going  hack  to  the  depot  thev  took  the  cars  tor  Sandv  Hook, 
which  is  about  one  mile  from  Harpers  Kerry.  The  train  stopped 
some  time  at  Point  of  Rocks.  The  rocks  are  perpendicular,  and 
some  extend  over  the  track.  The  wall  extends  over  a  mile  but: 
decreases  in  height.  Alter  remaining  at  Sandy  Hook  about  two 
hours  the  Regiment  marched  north  about  two  miles  and  pitched 
cam})  in  Pleasant  Valley.  Maryland  Heights,  the  scene  of  Col. 
.Miles'  surrender,  were  on  their  right,  the  Potomac  in  front,  and 
the  Virginia  Heights  on  the  other  side,  while  to  their  left  was 
another  range,  beyond  which  was  the  south  mountain  battle  Held, 
and  Antietam  was  northwest  of  them.  Here  the  Regiment  was 
assigned  to  the  zd  Brigade  (Brig. -Gen.  Thomas  C.  Kane),  ist 
Division  (Brig.-Gen.  A.  S.  Williams),  i2th  Corps  (Maj.-Gen. 
II.  \V.  Slocum).  The  regiment,  remained  in  Pleasant  Vallev 
a  month  or  so,  doing  picket  dutv.  Several  died  of  disease  in 
the  hospital  at  Harpers  Kerrv,  one  soldier  accidentally  shot  his 
thumb  off  while  on  picket,  and  another  was  found  with  his 
throat  cut.  supposed  to  have  committed  suicide. 

About  the  ist  of  November,  1862,  the  Regiment  broke  camp, 
and  leaving  the  sick  in  camp  went  on  a  scout.  They  crossed 
the  Potomac  and  the  Shenandoah,  remained  in  the  Valley  a  lew 
days  guarding  the  latter  river,  and  then  crossed  the  mountain  in 
a  heavy  snow  storm  and  went  into  camp  in  London  Vallev  on 
the  8th  ol  November.  The  regiment  remained  in  cam})  at  Lou- 
don  Valley  through  the  months  of  November  and  December, 
and  were  thoroughly  drilled,  guard  and  picket:  dutv  being  regu 
larly  performed.  The  boys  built  good  log  houses,  many  of  them 
having  very  fine  ones.  Harvey  Bosworth,  John  Richards,  John 
Hornibrook  and  Eugene  Cowan  especially  had  a  snug  hut,  hav 
ing  spent  a  great  deal  of  time  in  its  construction.  They  had 


THF,     I23D    RKGIMEXT.  15 

the  pleasure  of  sleeping  in  it  one  night  after  it  was  completed 
when  orders  came  to  march,  and  they  had  to  leave  it.  One 
squad  in  Co.  C  had  a  small  box  stove,  and  when  orders  came  to 
march,  not  knowing  but  it  was  simply  to  change  camp,  they 
took  the  stove  apart  and  each  carried  a  piece  for  half  a  da}-  when 
they  cast  it  off,  and  well  they  did. 

December  iith  the  Regiment  received  marching  orders,  and 
started  in  the  direction  of  Fredericksburg.  They  were  seven 
days  on  this  march,  passing  Hillsboro,  Whiteland,  Leesburgh, 
Green  Spring,  Fairfax  Court  House,  Fairfax  Station.  Fairfax 
Court  House  is  in  Fairfax  Coimtv,  which  derived  its  name  in 
honor  of  Lord  Fairfax,  an  English  lord,  who  owned  a  large 
tract  of  land  in  the  northwest  part  of  Virginia.  The  Court 
House  is  the  capitol  of  the  count}',  and  was  quite  a  business 
place  before  the  war  broke  out.  December  i$th  they  reached 
and  passed  over  Occoquan  river.  It  was  a  cold,  rainy,  muddy 
march,  and  this  night  in  particular,  the  boys  having  no  tents, 
their  blankets  and  clothes  were  completely  soaked  with  the  rain. 
On  the  morning  of  the  i6th  the  roads  were  in  a  much  worse 
condition  than  before.  They  returned  to  Fairfax  Station, 
marching  in  one  day  what  it  had  previously  taken  them  two  days 
to  march.  At  Fairfax  Station  the  Regiment  went  into  camp. 
They  had  made  about  100  miles  on  this  march.  Quite  a  num 
ber  were  left  in  camp  at  London  Valley,  sick.  The  guerillas 
made  a  dash  on  them  one  night,  and  captured  two  or  three,  but 
released  them  after  destroying  their  arms.  The  Regiment  guard 
ed  the  railroad  at  Fairfax  Station,  now  and  then  being  marched 
to  the  Occoquan  river,  crossing  at  Wolf  Run  Shoals,  and  then 
bac.k  to  camp. 

On  the  27th  firing  was  heard  in  the  direction  of  Dumfrees, 
where  four  or  five  regiments  and  a  section  of  artillery  belonging 
to  Geary's  division  were  stationed,  which  proved  to  be  a  fight 


I  6  REMINISCENCES    OF 

with  the  Rebel  General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  who,  with  over  3,000 
cavalry,  had  crossed  the  Rappahannock  for  a  raid  through  the 
Union  lines.  This  was  the  occasion  for  another  move  to  the 
Occoquan  by  the  Regiment,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  the  boys  will 
ever  forget  the  tramps  from  Fairfax  Station  to  this  river.  They 
had  three  days'  rations  with  them  this  time,  and  remained  at 
the  river  two  days,  sleeping  on  the  bank  of  the  river  rolled 
up  in  their  blankets.  The  weather  was  very  cold  at  night,  and 
they  suffered  severely. 

The  29th  the  Regiment  moved  back  to  the  Station.  During 
the  absence  of  the  Regiment  a  squad  of  Rebel  cavalry  made  a 
raid  on  the  lower  station  at  P"airfax  and  took  prisoner  the  tel 
egraph  operator. 

January  ist,  1863,  found  the  Regiment  stationed  at  Fairfax 
Station,  with  streets  handsomely  arranged,  and  in  snug  winter 
quarters,  built  of  logs,  arranged  with  huge  fire  places  and  all  the 
conveniences  that  only  a  soldier  knows  how  to  arrange.  And 
some  of  these  fire  places  were  certainly  novel.  They  were  made 
by  driving  sticks  into  the  ground  at  one  end  of  the  tent  in  the 
shape  of  a  horse  shoe,  and  then  plastering  inside  and  out  with 
mud.  Around  these  some  of  the  mischievous  ones  would  gath 
er  after  dark,  and  while  the  occupant  would  be  busy  frying  his 
bacon  they  would  drop  two  or  three  cartridges  into  the  fire,  the 
explosion  of  the  powder  causing  the  poor  fellow  to  turn  a  back 
handspring,  blowing  frying-pan,  bacon,  ashes  and  wood  all  over 
the  tent,  and  as  soon  as  the  frightened  soldier  could  gather  his 
senses  he  would  lay  hold  of  his  gun  or  the  first  thing  his  hands 
reached  and  start  for  the  guilty  ones,  but  of  course  none  were  to 
be  seen,  and  the  very  ones  wrho  did  the  mischief  would  soon 
come  around  and  be  his  greatest  sympathizers. 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  IJ 


CHAPTER      HI. 

THE  "MUD  MARCH"  FROM  FAIRFAX  TO  STAFFORD  COURT  HOUSE— IN 
CAMP  AT  STAFFORD— SICKNESS  AND  DEATH  OF  SOLDIERS— FURLOUGHS 
GRANTED. 

While  the  Regiment  lay  at  Fairfax  Station,  three  soldiers  from 
Co.  C  concluded  they  had  served  Uncle  Samuel  long  enough,  so 
one  dark  night  they  quietly  stole  out  of  camp,  .by  the  guards, 
and  started  for  Washington,    or  some  other  place,   and  arrived 
safely  home,  as  was  supposed,  not  being  heard  from  afterwards, 
and  the\-  were  set  down  as  deserters.      One  of  them  was  a  con_ 
stant  grumbler.      He  carried  a  heavy  load  in  his  knapsack,    and 
would  often  say  while  on  the  march  to  Fairfax,    "Who  can  have 
the  courage  to  fight  wid  dat  dam  ting  on  his  back?"     But  the 
Company  and   Regiment  were   much    better    off    without  such 
men,  their  grumbling  having  a  tendency  to   cause  a  feeling  of 
disquiet  and  discontent  among  the  men.       These    three    Can 
adians  were  of  but  little  use,     and  they  were  not  missed  very 
much  from  the  company. 

When  the  Regiment  left  Sandy  Hook  to  go  into  camp  at 
Pleasant  Valley,  several  were  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Harper's 
Ferry.  William  Skellie,  of  Co.  I,  died  of  camp  dysentery,  Oct. 


I  8  REMINISCENCES    OF 

31,  1862.  December  3Oth,  news  reached  camp  of  the  death  of 
Edson  Whitney  and  Joseph  H.  Dilts,  both  members  of  Co.  C, 
Zachariah  Hastings  of  Co.  A  also  died  at  Harper's  Ferry  Dec. 
25th,  1862.  We  think  George  Mattison,  Co.  D,  died  about  the 
same  time  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Quite  a  number  were  left  in  camp 
at  London  Valley  but  returned  to  the  Regiment  about  the  ist  of 
January,  1863.  Two  soldiers  from  Co.  C,  Shields  and  Carrol, 
received  their  discharge  for  disability. 

A  short  time  before  the  Regiment  left  Fairfax,  the}-  earned  the 
remains  of  a  soldier  from  Co.  F  to  lay  him  in  a  grave  in  the  old 
church-yard.  It  was  in  a  grove  of  venerable  oaks,  beeches,  etc., 
on  the  road  to  Fairfax  Court  House.  (Fairfax  Station  is  three 
and  one-half  miles  west  of  Fairfax  Court  House. )  While  they 
were  performing  their  duties  to  the  dead,  an  old  man,  apparent 
ly  some  70  years  of  age,  came  from  his  dwelling  near  by,  and 
looked  on  with  melancholy  interest.  After  the  burial  he  talked 
with  Capt.  Robertson  about  the  war,  &c. ,  and  about  the  then 
demolished  church.  He  said  that  it  had  stood  a  hundred  years; 
that  Gen.  Washington  contributed  towards  the  building  of  it; 
and  tears  were  in  the  old  man's  eyes  as  he  told  of  the  hopes  so 
fondly  cherished,  that  times  would  change,  and  permit  a  harmo 
nious  action  in  reconstructing  it.  He  told  what  Massachusetts 
regiment  tore  out  the  inside,  and  what  Vermont  regiment  from 
Fairfax  Court  House  broke  down  the  walls  and  drew  away  the 
brick. 


The  Regiment  remained  at  Fairfax  Station,  nothing 
to  relieve  the  monotony  of  a  soldier's  life,  until  the  ryth  of  fair 
uary,  1863,  when  orders  came  to  get  read}-  for  a  march,  and  at 
nine  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  the  Regiment  started  on  the  great 
"mud  march."  The  roads  were  in  a  very  good  condition,  and 
the  first  day  the  march  was  unbroken  until  night  when  the  Regi 
ment  went  into  camp.  The  second  day  they  reached  Dum frees, 


THE     1231)    RKiilMEXT.  I  9 

the  second  village  settled  in  the  United  States,  it  is  said,  and 
judging  from  its  appearance  we  have  no  good  reason  to  doubt  the 
assertion.  The  Regiment  bivouacked  near  the  village* 

About  midnight  a  terrible  rain  storm  came  on.  and  the  boys 
were  flooded  out.  To  sleep  was  beyond  question,  and  they 
made  the  best  of  the  weather  until  the  storm  had  passed,  and 
then  made  fires  and  solaced  themselves  with  a  cup  of  hot  coffee. 
The  next  day  the  roads  were  in  a  terrible  condition,  and  they 
made  only  about  three  miles.  The  weather  was  severely  cold, 
but  hope  and  labor  kept  their  bodies  and  spirits  warm,  and  they 
pushed  their  way  through  as  best  they  could.  If  Bunyan's  Pil 
grim  had  half  as  hard  a  task  when  struggling  through  the  Slough 
of  Despond  as  the  Regiment  did  in  marching  those  three  miles, 
we  feel  to  pity  him,  and  glory  in  his  perseverance  and  success. 

The  mud  was  fathomless.  In  some  instances  a  six  mule  team 
was  required  to  draw  an  unloaded  wagon  out  of  a  mud  hole. 
A  little  fellow  from  Co.  C,  being  loaded  down  with  his  knapsack 
and  accoutrements,  became  imbedded  in  the  mud,  and  two  of 
his  companions  had  to  go  to  his  assistance  and  pull  him  out. 
Tired  and  sick  at  heart  are  some  who  drag  themselves  wearily 
along  into  camp  that  night;  wet  to  the  skin,  blanket  and  tent 
soaking  with  the  rain  which  has  been  falling  all  day,  the  ground 
wet  as  well  as  wood,  but  in  spite  of  all  these  discomfitures  and 
drawbacks,  huge  fires  were  soon  blazing  all  around,  the  old  cof 
fee  pot  is  boiling,  and  while  the  soldiers  drink  their  coffee  and 
dry  their  clothes,  the  incidents  of  the  day  are  related  amid  much 
laughter.  Tents  are  put  up,  gradually  the  yelling  and  swearing 
of  the  teamsters  dies  away,  the  roars  of  laughter  cease  and  sleep, 
"tired  nature's  sweet  restorer, "  comes  to  drive  away  their  cares 
and  to  put  their  sorrows  in  oblivion,  and  the  soldiers  now  wan 
der  through  dreamland,  where  kind  friends  are  met,  loved  ones 
held  in  fond  embrace:  battles  are  fought,  and  bloody  victories 


2O  REMINISCENCES    OF 

won,  until  the  morning  breaks,  when  they  find  that  their  feet 
have  lain  too  near  the  fire,  and  the  bottom  of  their  blue  pants 
are  scorched  and  burned. 

January  2zd,  1863,  the  Regiment  did  not  break  cam})  until 
about  noon,  having  had  to  wait  for  a  bridge  to  be  built  over  a 
creek,  which  had  been  carried  away  by  the  high  water.  Two 
more  days  of  floundering  through  the  mud  and  Acquia  Creek 
was  reached  and  crossed,  and  the  Regiment  went  into  camp  at 
Stafford  Court  House,  taking  possession  of  log  huts  vacated  by 
other  soldiers.  At  this  place  the  Regiment  was  destined  to  re 
main  for  the  winter,  but  the  boys  had  no  knowledge  of  this, 
supposing  that  the  next  da}'  they  would  have  to  push  on  again. 
The  next,  the  24th,  large  details  were  made  for  picket  duty, 
which  was  an  evidence  to  the  boys  that  their  marching,  for  a 
while  at  least,  was  over.  For  a  few  clays  the  weather  was  warm 
and  pleasant,  and  the  boys  were  comfortable.  The  night  ol  the 
27th  of  January  snow  fell  to  the  depth  of  several  inches.  This 
made  it  very  disagreeable  getting  around,  but  having  comfort 
able  quarters  they  managed  very  well.  Picket  duty  required 
large  details,  the  picket  line  extending  from  Stafford  Court 
House  to  Acquia  Creek,  and  there  being  so  manv  on  the  sick 
list,  about  every  other  day  was  spent  on  the  picket  line  by  those 
who  were  well.  The  camp  was  located  in  a  hollow  between  high 
hills,  and  was  a  very  unhealthy  one. 

On   Sunday,    February   8th,     Geo.    H.     Sweet,    Co.    H,    and 
Chauncey  Parker,    Co.  G,  were  borne  out   from   their  tents    by 
faithful  comrades,  and  their  remains  deposited  in  a  grave  dug  on 
a  hill  just  above  camp.  Rev.  H.    Gordon,   chaplain   of  the  Reg_ 
iment,  conducting  the  services.      'Pears  filled  the  eyes  of  the  sol 
diers  as  they  laid  away  forever  their  tent  mates  and  companions, 
and  the   little   mounds   were   left   unmarked   by  slab   or   stak   c 
There  are  manv,  very  many  little  mounds  on   the   hills  around- 


THE     123!)    REGIMENT. 


21 


Cam})  Stafford  where  gentle  zephyrs  play,  and  night  winds  mur 
mur  soft  and  low.  To  them  the  toils  and  hardships  of  a  soldier's 
life  were  over.  They  did  not  die  in  the  din  and  clash  of  battle, 
yet  they  gave  up  all,  and  died  for  their  country.  Among  the 
many  who  died  at  Camp  Stafford  were  Daniel  S.  Carmody,  Co. 
K,  who  d.'ed  in  March;  Henry  Reed,  Co.  F,  February  26th; 
bod}"  sent  home  to  his  father  in  Argvle;  Martin  F.  Dunlap,  son 
of  Peter  C.  Dunlap  of  Lake;  his  body  was  also  sent  home  to  his 
father;  Darwin  Fasten,  Co.  D,  died  in  March;  Andrew  J.  Coon, 
Co.  G,  March  i6th;  R.  13.  Janes  of  Co.  A;  his  parents  resided 
in  Westchester  count}',  and  his  remains  were  sent  there  for 
burial.  About  the  iota  of  February  Jacob  Stover,  also  from  Co. 
A,  died  in  the  hospital  at  Harper's  Ferry.  Grim  death  reaped 
a  rich  harvest  at  Camp  Stafford.  Quite  a  number  were  injured 
from  falling  trees.  A  captain  in  the  5th  Connecticut  was  killed, 
and  many  others  were  injured.  The  boys  were  not  all  wood 
choppers,  and  did  not  understand  chopping  a  tree  and  making 
it  fall  in  any  certain  direction,  but  would  chop  all  around  the 
tree  and  there  was  no  telling  where  it  would  fall;  each  man  had 
to  look  out  for  himself. 

Furloughs  were  granted  at  Stafford  for  ten  days,  and  quite  a 
number  availed  themselves  of  this  opportunity  to  visit  home. 
Among  others  who  had  leave  of  absence  was  Rev.  Henry  Gor 
don,  who  by  his  uniform  kindness  and  social  disposition  had 
endeared  himself  to  the  hearts  of  the  soldiers  in  the  Regiment. 

On  account  of  the  increasing  sickness,  the  doctors  advised  a 
change  of  location  of  the  entire  brigade.  About  two  miles  from 
camp  was  a  very  fine  location,  on  a  hill  with  good  water  near 
by,  and  to  this  place  it  was  decided  to  move  the  camp.  Then 
commenced  the  erection  of  new  log  huts,  and  for  several  days 
this  was  carried  on,  until  the  2oth  of  February,  when  the  entire 
Regiment,  officers  and  all,  repaired  to  the  new  grounds  to  finish 


22  REMINISCENCES     OF 

up  the  work  begun.      The  Regiment  did  not  move  camp  until 
the  4th  of  March,  owing  to  a  heavy  fall  of  snow  February  22d. 


CHAPTER      IV. 

NEW  CAMP— MAIL  DAY— HORSE  SHOT  ON  THE  PICKET  LINE— ORDERS  TO 
MARCH— EN  ROUTE  TO  OHANCELLORSVILLE— THE  FIRST  SHELL  FIRED 
AT  THE  REGIMENT— THE  BOYS  UNDER  FIRE. 

The  Regiment  finally  took  possession  of  their  new  camp  on 
the  4th  of  March,  and  with  better  quarters,  better  water,  and 
much  better  atmosphere,  the  health  of  the  Regiment  began  to 
improve.  Every  morning  Company  streets  were  "policed"  im 
mediately  after  breakfast:  the  boys  who  had  been  detailed  for 
picket  made  themselves  read}',  and  were  soon  marched  off  by  an 
officer  who  likewise  had  been  detailed  to  take  charge  of  the 
picket  line,  and  those  who  remained  in  camp  busied  themselves 
as  best  they  could,  when  not  called  out  to  drill,  mostly  by  writ 
ing  letters  home.  And  just  here  we  will  say  a  word  about  mail 
day.  Whatever  the  men  were  doing  on^tkesc  days  was  laid 
aside,  and  a  rush  made  for  the  captain's  tent,  where  one  of  the 
officers  reads  aloud  the  addresses.  Every  one  hopes  for  a  letter 
from  the  dear  one — a  brief,  yet  precious  memento.  Eagerly 
each  one  listens  for  the  calling  of  his  name.  The  bustle  of  dis 
tribution  over  each  man  regains  his  tent,  when  an  unusual  quiet 


THK    12^1)    KKGIMEXT.  2} 

reigns.  The  disappointed  are  communing  with  their  own 
thoughts,  while  others  are  busy  with  words  from  their  loved  and 
distant  friends.  One  might  look  into  the  tents  and  easily  learn 
without  inquiry  what  news  had  been  received.  Here  a  counte 
nance  glows  with  delightful  joy  over  words  of  love  and  pleasant 
intelligence,  but  there,  hidden  away  as  tar  as  possible  from  his 
tent-mates  is  one  whose  il owing  tears  fall  upon  the  page  that 
tells  of  ominous  sickness  or  sorrowful  death.  Thus  amid  hopes 
and  fears,  sorrows  and  joys,  mid  scenes  of  strife  and  daily  toil 
the  days  wear  awav. 

One  dark  night  on  picket  one  of  the  men  thought  he  could 
hear  some  one  stealthily  approaching  his  part  of  the  line.  He 
listened  attentively,  and  the  sound  became  more  distinct.  He 
tried  to  penetrate  the  darkness  but  could  see  nothing.  Finally 
the  sound  of  approaching  footsteps  broke  upon  his  ear,  and  the 
thought  of  the  enemy  stealing  upon  him  to  la}"  him  low  in  death 
made  him  still  more  watchful.  He  saw  in  the  darkness  an  ob 
ject  approaching  and  he  fired.  All  was  still  in  front,  but  the  re 
port  of  his  gun  routed  up  the  reserve  and  the  picket  line  was 
strengthened.  News  reached  camp  that  the  enemy  had  made 
an  effort  to  creep  upon  our  pickets  and  capture  them,  but  their 
designs  had  been  frustrated  owing  to  the  vigilance  of  "Andy." 
There  was  no  sleep  for  the  reserve  the  balance  of  the  night,  and 
they  remained  with  guns  in  hand  readv  to  repel  the  advancing 
horde.  Finally  after  dreary  hours  of  anxiety  and  alarm  daylight 
dawned,  and  no  signs  of  the  enemy.  Some  of  the  boys  went 
out  in  front  to  find  traces  of  blood,  when  lo  and  behold  it  was 
found  that  v' Andy"  had  not  been  mistaken  in  hearing  and  see 
ing  some  one  approach,  for  there  lay  cold  in  death  his  victim — 
AN  OLD  WHITE  HORSE.  It  would  seem  that  the  old  horse  was 
quietly  grazing  in  the  woods,  and  approaching  too  near  the  picket 
line  met  his  death  as  above  related.  There  was  considerable 


24  KK.M  IXISCKXCKS    OF 

swearing  by  those  who  had  been  broken  of  their  rest,  but  all  en 
joyed  a  good  joke  at  "  Andy's"  expense. 

It  was  the  custom  of  the  boys  after  nightfall  to  gather  around 
the  camp  fires  and  talk  over  the  incidents  of  their  boyhood  and 
the  events  of  their  lives.  Thoughts  of  home  and  the  friends 
gathered  around  loved  firesides  would  crowd  upon  them  ;  mem 
ory  dwelt  with  clinging  interest  on  scenes  that  'might  never  be 
repeated ;  imagination  feasted  herself  on  pictures  that  might 
never  prove  a  reality,  and  some  were  destined  never  again  to  see 
home  and  loved  ones. 

The  1 5th  of  April  the  boys  received  eight  days'  rations  of  hard 
tack,  sugar  anil  coffee,  and  sixty  rounds  of  ammunition.  The 
issuing  of  so  many  days  rations  and  rounds  of  ammunition  was 
to  them  an  omen,  it  portended  a  movement  of  the  army.  Day 
after  day  passed  and  no  move,  yet  rations  were  being  supplied 
so  as  to  make  the  eight  days'  rations  good.  All  clothing,  save 
one  change  of  under-clothing,  had  been  turned  over,  and  the 
trains  were  reduced  to  the  smallest  possible  limit. 

On  the  morning  of  April  27th,  1863,  orders  came  to  pack  up 
and  move.  A  brighter  morning  never  shone  than  on  that 
April  morning  as  each  company  and  regiment  filed  out  of  its 
carnj)  towards  the  column  already  en  route.  The  sun's  rays, 
reflecting  from  thousands  of  bayonets  and  polished  gun  barrels, 
resembled  a  phosphorescent  sea,  whose  brilliancy  the  be 
holder  can  never  forget  and  only  faintly  describe.  The  arms 
and  equipments  of  the  soldiers  were  complete,  and  an  armv 
never  went  out  better  prepared,  more  confident  of  success  in 
whatever  they  were  to  undertake,  or  with  more  perfect  faith  in 
their  officers  than  did  the  12 3d  Regiment,  as  on  that  memora 
ble  morning  its  long  line  of  glistening  bayonets,  its  floating 
banners  and  its  noble  braves  filed  off  past  Falmouth  on  its  Chan- 
cellorsville  campaign.  The  i2th  Corps,  to  which  the  Regiment 


Til!'".     1  2  j  I)    RKCI.M  KX'l .  2  5 

belonged,  and  the  iilh  and  5th  moved  northwesterly  towards 
Warrenton,  and  on  the  28th  reached  the  north  bank  of  the  Rappa- 
hannock  river,  crossing  without  opposition  at  Kelly's  Ford. 
Pushing  on  they  reached  the  Rapidan  river,  crossing  at  Ger- 
mania  Mills  in  the  night,  and  camped  about  one  mile  be 
yond.  Atfiermania  Mills  the  Rebels  had  some  time  before 
destroyed  a  bridge,  and  were  repairing  it  at  the  time  the  army 
moved,  but  unfortunately  for  the  soldiers,  the  Rebels  had  not 
succeeded  in  completing  it.  All  the  troops  which  had  preceded 
the  Regiment  had  to  ford  the  stream.  The  water  was  breast 
high  to  a  fair  si/ed  man,  and  short  bovs  had  to  struggle  to  keep 
heads  above  water.  The  current  was  running  very  rapidly,  and 
despite  the  efforts  of  a  squad  of  cavalry,  many  came  very  near 
being  drowned.  One  soldier  fell  into  the  water,  and  his  knap 
sack  being  too  heavy  he  could  not  regain  a  foot  hold,  and  was 
towed  to  the  shore  by  a  cavalryman.  The  123(1,  through  Col. 
McDougall,  offered  to  build  a  bridge,  and  were  allowed  to  do 
so.  This  saved  them  from  the  disagreeable  bath  their  predeces 
sors  had  to  endure.  Except  the  upsetting  and  "spilling  into 
the  river'  of  some  half  a  dozen  mules  that  sailed  feet  up  for  two 
or  three  rods  down  stream,  and  came  out  braying  hideously, 
nothing  serious  occurred.  Nearly  200  Rebels,  together  with  a 
captain  of  engineers  and  a  captain  of  cavalry,  were  captured  at 
this  ford. 

The  troops  were  now  on  the  direct  road  that  leads  to  Freder- 
icksburg.  This  was  on  Thursday  the  3Oth.  During  the  morn 
ing's  march  they  struck  the  Fredericksburg  plank  road,  on  which 
they  marched  until  about  1 1  o'clock,  when  a  heavy  report,  a 
•\vhite  puff  of  smoke  followed  by  a  whizzing,  screaming  noise, 
gave  them  to  understand  that  the  enemy  were  anxiously  waiting 
to  see  them.  The  Regiment  was  ordered  to  charge  up  and 
silence  the  batten-  which  was  being  operated  by  rebel  cavalrymen. 


2O  REMINISCENCES    OF 

They  filed  off  to  the  right  of  the  line  of  march  up  a  road.  On 
a  hill  away  ahead  was  stationed  a  batten-,  and  two  shells  were 
thrown  at  the  Regiment  as  they  were  marching  up  to  the  bat 
tery,  but  fortunately  the  shells  went  over  and  the  entire  length 
of  the  Regiment  and  exploded.  This  was  the  first  time  the 
boys  had  been  under  lire,  but  there  was  no  flinching,  no  hesita 
ting.  To  be  sure  they  did  dodge  a  little  when  the  shells  went 
whizzing  over  their  heads,  but  they  silenced  the  guns,  and  drove 
the  enemy.  No  one  was  hurt,  although  a  shell  burst  within  a 
rod  of  Co.  A.  The  Regiment  waited  until  the  wagon  train  had 
passed  and  then  joined  the  .Brigade. 

The  next  morning,  May  ist,  the  boys  were  allowed  quite  a 
rest,  and  guns  were  cleaned,  ammunition  examined  and  every 
thing  put  in  readiness  for  action.  At  1 1  o'clock  the  Regiment 
was  ordered  into  line  and  marched  forward,  following  the  plank 
road.  Just  as  they  were  starting,  to  use  a  soldier's  expression  the 
ball  opened.  The  heavy  firing  directly  in  front  of  them  told  that 
the  struggle  had  commenced.  And  yet  at  this  time  they  did  not 
know  what  the  struggle  was  to  be.  The  officers  may  have  known 
something  of  the  movements,  but  the  rank  and  file  only  trusted 
in  their  officers,  and  were  confident  of  success,  and  seemed  as 
merry  and  determined  as  ever.  They  had  known  only  camp  life 
and  all  were  anxious  for  an  engagement.  After  advancing  a 
mile  or  so  they  filed  to  the  left  into  the  woods  that  Hanked  the 
road  on  either  side.  Here  the  Brigade  to  which  the  Regiment 
belonged  was  formed,  and  they  pushed  on  till  they  struck  the 
rebel  batteries  which  were  secreted  in  the  dense  woods.  For 
over  half  an  hour  they  lay  in  an  open  field,  the  rebels  shelling 
them  incessantly,  and  the  shells  from  the  Union  batteries 
screaming  just  over  their  heads.  They  retired  in  good  order, 
having  accomplished  all  they  intended,  namely,  holding  the  at 
tention  of  the  rebels  on  the  left,  while  our  forces  on  the  right 
could  attack  and  take  United  States  Ford. 


THK     12^1)     RKGIMKNT. 


CHAPTKR       V. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  CHANCELLORSVILLE— COMPANIES  "I"  AND  "A"  ON  THE 
PICKET  LINE— LLEUT.-COL.  NORTON  KILLED—DESPERATE  FIGHTING, 

Our  last  chapter  closed  with  the  Regiment  falling  back  to  its 
former  position  after  having  made  a  feint  towards  Fredericks- 
burg,  which  was  at  about  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  ist  of 
May.  Soon  after  this  about  two-thirds  of  Co.  I  with  Lieutenant 
Beadle,  was  sent  out  to  form  a  picket  line.  They  proceeded  to 
a  tobacco  house  in  front  and  to  the  east  of  the  Regiment,  and 
ran  their  line  just  about  southwest  across  a  meadow,  through 
a  piece  of  woods  and  on  to  a  road  leading  to  Spottsylvania  Court 
House,  which  was  the  right  of  the  picket  line.  From  the  mead 
ow  through  the  woods  the  ground  was  ascending.  No  sooner 
had  the  last  post  been  established  than  the  cavalry  attacked  the 
right  of  the  line,  and  after  a  sharp  resistance  from  the  boys, 
drove  back  four  or  five  posts.  Finally  the  line  fell  back  to  the 
meadow  fence  at  the  foot  of  the  hill.  Captain  Hall,  who  in  the 
meantime  had  come  up  with  the  balance  of  the  company,  took 
charge  of  the  pickets,  and  commenced  reforming  the  line  by 
placing  the  men  along  up  the  hill  again,  when  he  discovered 
the  Rebels  moving  up  in  column  and  forming.  He  then  placed 


28  RKMIXISCF.NTF.S    OK 

his  men  nearer  together.  Lieut.  Mason  with  Co.  A  joined  Capt§ 
Hall  at  this  point,  and  Co.  A  was  ordered  to  form  along  the 
fence  direct!}'  in  front  and  in  the  Rebel's  centre.  The  Regiment 
hearing  sharp  skirmishing  on  the  picket  line  pushed  rapidly  for 
ward  and  took  position  on  the  edge  of  a  bluff  in  the  rear  of  the 
pickets,  and  as  soon -as  the  boys  discovered  the  Rebels,  gave  three 
cheers.  The  Rebels  responded  with  their  peculiar  yell,  and  then 
firing  commenced  on  both  sides.  Being  between  the  two  fires. 
Capt.  Hall  ordered  the  pickets  to  file  to  the  right  out  of  range. 
Co.  I  did  so,  but  Co.  A  moved  directly  back  towards  the  Regi 
ment  and  suffered  severely  in  doing  so,  having  to  ascend  a  steep 
hill  to  reach  the  Regiment.  Co.  I  skirmishers  fell  back  to  a 
piece  of  woods  in  rear  of  the  Regiment,  and  it  is  a  great  wonder 
that  any  one  escaped  death.  The  Rebels  f.nally  got  a  battery  in 
position  and  commenced  shelling  the  Regiment.  It  was  at  this 
time  that  the  gallant  Lieut.  -Col.  Norton  fell.  He  was  swinging 
his  sword  and  cheering  on  the  men,  and  was  about  to  advance 
the  line,  when  a  rifle  ball  struck  him  in  the  hip,  glancing  up 
ward.  He  was  immediately  carried  to  the  rear.  When  he  fell 
the  Regiment  wavered,  but  .Major  Rogers'  ringing  voice  was 
heard  above  the  roar  of  musketry  giving  the  command  to  "steady, 
men,  stead}',"  and  the  boys  stood  bravely  until  the  order  was  given 
to  fall  back  to  the  woods,  it  not  being  desired  to  bring  on  a 
general  engagement.  They  fell  back  in  good  order  and  lay  down 
in  the  woods. 

Then  commenced  a  terrible  artillery  duel,  and  fur  an  hour  the 
roar  was  incessant;  the  heavy  shells  came  with  solid  shot  to 
back  them,  cutting  down  trees  and  throwing  up  the  dirt  most 
frightfully.  The  roar  of  the  guns,  the  screaming  of  the  shells, 
the  crash  of  falling  trees,  the  cries  of  the  wounded,  with  the  rat 
tle  of  musketry,  all  conspired  to  make  the  scene  terrific.  Dark 
ness  put  an  end  to  the  firing,  and  the  boys  slept  on  the  ground 
with  their  <runs  in  their  hands  until  morninsr. 


THK     I  23])    RF.tJIMKXT.  2() 

During  the  artillery  duel  Dr.  Connolly  came  along  to  t\vo  or 
three  of  the  officers  and  invited  them  to  share  with  him  for  the 
night  a  cosy  place  under  a  massive  tree.  While  talking  with  the 
officers  a  shell  struck  the  tree  in  question  breaking  it  off  near  the 
top,  the  to})  of  the  tree  falling  just  where  the  doctor  had  proposed 
to  sleep  for  the  night.  Pie  turned  to  the  officers  and  coolly  re 
marked,  "  I  didn't  care  much  about  sleeping  under  that  tree  any 
way. "  Had  the  doctor  been  under  the  tree  he  would  have  been 
killed. 

Saturday  morning  dawned  bright  and  beautiful.  The  birds 
sang  just  as  sweetly  as  they  did  in  the  far-off  Northern  homes  of 
the  boys,  where  there  was  no  deadly  strife.  The  Regiment 
spent  the  day  in  building  such  breastworks  as  the}-  then  knew 
how  to  build;  for,  be  it  remembered,  they  were  not  old  soldiers 
then,  and  did  not  know  the  value  of  strong  works.  About  the 
middle  of  the  afternoon  they  were  moved  forward,  as  a  support 
to  the  3d  Corps.  After  dark,  and  when  they  were  skirmishing 
with  the  enemy,  order  came  to  fall  back.  The  order  not  being 
heard  or  understood  by  the  whole  Regiment,  about  five  com 
panies  held  their  position  in  the  line,  while  the  other  five  fell 
back  to  Gen.  Geary's  breastworks.  The  order  soon  became  un 
derstood,  and  the  remaining  five  companies  fell  back  also. 

It  was  here  the  boys  witnessed  an  artillery  duel  in  the  night, 
the  sight  of  which  was  grand,  sublime.  Even  an  attempt  to 
describe  which  would  seem  too  tame.  The  Regiment  was  soon 
moved  out  to  the  south  of  the  plank  road,  and  reached  that  po 
sition  Justin  time  to  be  overrun  by  the  broken  debris  of  the  i  ith 
Corps.  The  enemy  had  struck  their  right  flank  and  driven  them 
back  in  great  disorder.  The  Rebels  followed  in  hot  pursuit, 
but  were  checked  by  a  force  of  artillery,  and  a  portion  of  the 
1 2th  Corps.  It  is  believed  by  many  that  it  was  here  that  Stone 
wall  Jackson  was  killed.  The  i2th  Corps  was  facing  the  west. 


30  REMINISCENCES    OF 

with  its  right  resting  on  the  plank  road  while  the  3d  Corps  ex 
tended  still  further  to  the  right,  and  supported  the  right  of  the 
1 2th  Corps.  The  1230!  was  in  the  front  line,  and  in  the  edge  of 
a  wood,  while  behind  the  A  was  an  open  field,  the  ground  as 
cending  back  to  the  Chancellorsville  House.  Between  the  Reg 
iment  and  the  plank  road  was  the  3d  Maryland  Infantry,  and 
behind  the  i2^d  were  several  lines  of  troops,  and  on  a  knoll  in 
the  rear  the  artillery  was  massed. 

All  through  the  long  hours  of  Saturday  night  the  boys  lay 
behind  a  few  stumps,  rails  and  rotten  logs  which  they  had  placed 
in  front  of  them,  for  a  sort  of  breastwork.  No  fires  were  al 
lowed  for  coffee,  no  lights  of  any  kind.  The  boys  talked  in 
subdued  voices  of  the  probable  events  of  the  morrow,  and  all 
was  quiet  save  the  mournful  notes  of  the  whip-poor-wills  and  an 
occasional  burst  of  firing,  and  a  deathlike  stillness  seemed  to 
pervade  the  whole  line.  Some  tried  to  sleep,  but  an  intuitive 
knowledge  of  the  dreadful  carnage  and  blood  shed  that  awaited 
them  on  the  morrow,  made  their  slumbers  a  horror  of  dreams. 
No  one  but  a  soldier  knows  the  dreadful  agony  of  suspense:  the 
hardest  fought  battle  is  nothing  in  comparison  to  it.  At  length 
Sunday  morning  dawned,  a  day  destined  to  be  invested  through 
all  coming  time  with  a  melancholy  and  imperishable  interest 
by  the  members  of  the  i2^d  Regiment.  With  the  first^  pencil- 
ings  of  the  light  of  the  31!  of  May  the  battle  commenced  and 
raged  with  great  fury.  Fired  to  an  almost  divine  potency,  with 
a  majestic  madness,  this  band  of  soldiers  shook  the  air  with 
their  battle  cries,  and  for  over  four  long  hours  fought  like  Spar 
tans.  The  Rebels  charged  up  in  solid  column  and  were  re 
pulsed;  rushed  up  again  and  again,  receiving  terrific  fire  square 
in  their  faces,  but  still  pushed  forward  unto  death  as  if  they 
coveted  it.  The  lines  in  the  rear  of  the  Regiment  began  to  fade 
out,  and  there  is  nothing  between  its  right  and  the  plank  road. 
Soon  there  is  nothing  on  their  left,  and  soon,  too,  nothing  can  be 


THE     123!)    REGIMENT.  31 

seen  behind  them  but  the  artillery.  Our  batteries,  at  short 
range,  hurled  upon  them  grape  and  canister.  The  advancing 
column  was  cut  and  gashed  as  if  pierced,  seamed  and  plowed 
by  lightning  strokes.  Companies  and  Regiments  melted  away 
yet  still  they  came.  The  living  masses  surged  and  rolled  against 
each  other  like  the  billows  of  the  sea  in  a  tempest.  The  enemy, 
maddened  by  the  resistance  of  these  brave  men,  rushed  up  to 
certain  death.  The  batteries  stationed  on  the  ridge  in  rear  of 
the  Regiment  left  long  lines  of  dead  men  piled  where  the  grape 
and  canister  passed  through,  but  the  Rebel  commanders  pushed 
their  men  forward  and  filled  dp  the  lines  as  fast  as  they  were 
mowed  down.  The  Rebels,  half  crazed  with  whisky,  fought  with 
the  desperation  of  demons.  The  rebel  cavalry  drove  the  in 
fantry  on  and  allowed  no  man  to  skulk  or  retreat. 

The  brave  Dr.  Connolly  took  his  position  in  the  centre  of  the 
Regiment  and  there  remained  caring  for  the  wounded,  never 
flinching,  until  they  were  driven  back.  With  the  immense  odds 
the  preponderance  of  numbers  must  eventually  tell,  and  the 
weaker  party  be  forced  back  by  the  sheer  weight  of  the  foe.  It 
was  so  in  this  case.  It  must  be  remembered  that  the  boys  had 
had  no  food  since  noon  the  day  before,  and  no  sleep. 

The  enemy  finally  sweep  down  and  try  to  turn  the  right  flank. 
The  right  wing  of  the  Regiment  swings  back,  but  they  come  to 
the  front  again.  The  boys  were  ordered  to  unsling  knapsacks 
and  charge  over  the  works.  They  did  so,  but  having  no  sup 
port  on  either  right  or  left,  were  ordered  back  behind  the  rude 
works  where  many  of  their  brave  comrades  lay  dead  and  many 
more  wounded. 


3  2  REMINISCENCES    OF 


CHAPTER    VI. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  CHANCELLORSVILLE  CONTINUED — THE  REGIMENT 
FALLS  BACK— LIST  OF  KILLED  AND  WOUNDED— INCIDENTS— BACK  TO 
CAMP  AT  STAFFORD  COURT  HOUSE. 

AT  the  time  the  Regiment  was  ordered  back  over  the  works, 
the  Rebels  were  steadily  advancing  upon  them.  There 
was  no  General  to  give  orders,  and  the}7  were  a  law  unto  them 
selves.  Col.  McDougall  gave  the  orders  to  fall  back,  and  they 
did  so.  So  close  were  the  Rebels  upon  them  that  many  who 
had  unslung  knapsacks  to  make  the  charge  preferred  to  lose  them 
rather  than  be  taken  prisoners,  which  they  would  have  been  had 
they  loitered  by  the  way.  It  was  hard  to  leave  behind  their 
wounded  comrades,  but  there  was  no  place  of  safety  near  and 
no  time  to  assist  them,  and  reluctantly  they  fell  back.  Up  the 
hill  towards  the  Chancellorsville  House  they  went,  through  a 
perfect  shower  of  shot  and  shell.  The  batteries  on  the  knoll 
worked  with  astonishing  rapidity  on  the  advancing  Rebels,  and 
besides  running  the  gantlet  of  their  own  guns  the  Rebel  batter 
ies  were  raining  shot  and  shell  on  the  hillside  up  which  the  Reg 
iment  was  pushing.  At  this  point  the  Regiment  became  divided, 
some  going  to  the  right  and  some  to  the  left  of  the  Chancellors 
ville  House.  And  here,  also,  the  colors  of  the  Regiment  were 


THE    123!)    RKGIMKNT.  33 

lost,  and  a  better  soldier  never  trod  the  soil  of  Virginia  than  he 
who  at  this  time  must  have  thought  that  self-preservation  was  the 
first  law  of  nature.  Up  to  this  time  he  had  held  them  up  firm 
ly,  proudly,  hut  in  the  retreat  he  must  have  become  "demoral 
ized,  as  the  boys  had  it,  and  threw  them  away.  And  by  way  of 
parenthesis  we  will  here  say,  that  in  all  the  fights  in  which  the 
Regiment  was  afterwards  engaged,  he  showed  himself  a  cool, 
brave  man.  No  one  regretted  the  occurrence  more  than  he, 
and  probably  he  would  have  given  his  life  if  he  could  have  re 
called  this  one  dark  spot  in  his  otherwise  brilliant  record  as  a 
soldier.  He  received  a  public  reprimand  from  the  Colonel  after 
reaching  cam})  at  Stafford,  but  received  it  as  a  true  soldier — with 
meekness  and  humilitv. 

Some  of  the  boys  went  directly  to  the  Chancellorsville  House, 
in  which  was  crowded  the  wounded  from  both  armies,  and  be 
hind  which  hustled  the  Union  men  and  Rebel  deserters.  Soon 
the  Rebel  batteries  got  range  and  rained  shot  and  shell  at  the 
house.  Then  commenced  a  scramble  for  the  Ford.  Ln  the  af 
ternoon  the  Regiment  took  a  position  on  the  extreme  left  of  the 
line  near  Bank's  Ford,  where  massive  works  were  thrown  up, 
and  even-  preparation  made  to  repel  the  enemy,  should  they 
follow  up  their  slight  advantage  gained.  Not  until  next  day, 
May  4th,  did  the  little  band  of  what  remained  of  the  Regiment 
get  together.  But  oh,  how  many  are  missed  from  their  accus 
tomed  places. 

Second  Lieut.  J.  C.  Corbett,  of  Co.  C,  was  left  on  the  field 
dead,  and  first  Lieut.  Beadle  and  second  Lieut.  Albert  Shiland 
of  Co.  I,  were  badly  wounded,  and  roll  call  revealed  nearly  one 
hundred  and  fifty  men  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  in  this  their 
first  baptism  of  blood. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  men  killed,  wounded  and  missing 
in  each  company  : 


34  REMINISCENCES     OF 

Lieut.  Col.  Frank  Norton,  wounded  and  died  of  wounds. 

Co.  A — Killed— i st  Sergt.  Wm.  J.  Harrison,  William  Bart- 
lett,  Oscar  Baumes,  John  H.  Hyde.  Wounded — Hiram  T. 
Youn^  Ezra  Booter,  Henry  Lampman,  died  of  his  wounds ; 
Wm.  Manning,  Geo.  H.  Hay.  Palmer  K.  Clark,  LeRoy  Wright, 
fames  Pilling,  Oscar  Sparhawk,  Caleb  Teift,  John  Shearer,  Jo 
seph  Safford,  Joshua  Allen,  Anson  Bently,  Charles  'Fucker  : 
taken  prisoner,  Alexander  Dobbin. 

Co.  13 — Wounded — G.  E.  Stover,  died  on  battlefield  from  lock 
jaw;  Seymour  Bennett ;  taken  prisoner,  Leander  Pelott. 

Co.  C — Killed — Lieut.  John  C.  Corbett,  Sergt.  L.  S.  Gillett. 
Corporal  George  Wright,  Frank  Cull,  William  Holt,  George  H. 
Leonard,  David  H.  Sager.  Wounded — Sergt.  R.  W.  Farrell, 
Corporal  Orville  A.  Manville,  George  Black.  Pascal  L.  Cook, 
John  Douglass,  George  Horton,  H.  F.  Johnson,  James  Kelgal- 
lon,  William  P.  Lamb,  Frank  Moon,  James  Sherman,  Hiram 
Tafft,  Jr.,  Nathan  Thompson.  Missing — Nathan  Leonard,  never 
heard  from  after  the  battle,  and  H .  T.  Blanchard,  who  was  taken 
prisoner  and  paroled. 

Co.  D — Killed — J.  Finch.  Wounded — Henry  Sartwell,  Isaac 
McNutt,  George  W.  Pattison.  Rice  C.  Bull,  George  Chase,  John 
Hall,  Amos  Walker,  Alexander  McLaughlin,  Albert  Nicholson. 

Co.  E — -Killed — B.  Briggs,  James  A.  Norton.  Wounded — 
C.  E.  Wood,  Capt.  Norman  F.  Weer,  Dennis  Baker,  William 
Murphy,  Joseph  Tellier,  E.  'Fanner,  Sidney  S.  Weer,  Daniel 
\Vells,  John  Murphy,  Amos  Rhodes,  William  Smith,  James  Mc- 
Murray,  supposed  to  have  been  taken  prisoner,  never  heard  from  . 

Co.  F — Killed — William  J.  Wood,  George  L.  Taylor. — Wound 
ed — Segt.  Jacob  Williams,  Russell  Fullerton,  J.  S.  Dobbin, 
Geo.  W.  McKibbin,  William  Brady,  Garner  Baker,  William 
Lackey,  William  S.  Skellie,  John  Fowler,  J.  Schermerhorn,  Wil 
liam  H.  Smith,  D.  R.  McDougall,  Daniel  M.  McClelland, 
P.  B.  Robbins;  taken  prisoner,  Robert  Williams. 

Co.  G — Killed — Clarence  Coulter.  Wounded — John  A.  Ste 
venson,  -  -  Bell,  Alexander  Ellis,  John  M'Umber,  George 
Lambert,  H.  W.  Brown,  George  Wells.  Missing — Lieut.  J. 
Rice,  S..  R.  Warner  and  James  H.  Morse,  taken  prisoners. 

Co.  H— Killed— W.  L.  Rich,  John  A.  Mains,  C.  Marshal. 
Wounded— E.  Gleason,  J.  A.  Perkins,  Corp.  G.  W.  Briggs,  Ser 
geant  William  H.  Dennison,  William  J.  Cruikshanks,  Corp.  W. 
H.  Stewart,  M.  McFarland,  Alvah  Streeter,  Charles  E.  Wood, 
John  S.  Doig,  A.  Johnson,  died  of  wounds. 

Co.  I— Killed— Kelly  Bishop.     Wounded— Lieut.  Albert  Shi- 


THE     I  2 3D    REGIMENT.  35 

land,  James  Bassett,  Rufus  Gallowoy,  John  Ketchum.  James  P. 
Wickes,  Robert  W.  Skellie,  John  H.  Cobb,  Josiah  Fletcher, 
L.  Phelps.  Thomas  Henley,  Lieut.  Marcus  Beadle,  Win.  Hag- 
garty.  Taken  prisoners,  John  Hover,  George  L.  Dennis  and 
James  S.  Springer. 

Co.  K — Killed — F.  Wilbur.  Orderly  Sergt.  Horace  Howard, 
Milo  Shaw,  Edward  Tanner.  Wounded — A.  M.  Cooke,  D.  J. 
Humphrey,  Albert  W.  Doan. 

135  killed,  wounded  and  missing. 

Many  deeds  of  valor  were  performed  that  morning,  and  a 
coolness  displayed  on  the  part  of  some  that  was  astonishing. 
When  the  battle  raged  the  fiercest,  and  men  were  falling  all 
around  him,  James  Sherman  of  Co.  C  was  slightly  wounded  in 
the  head.  Raising  his  hand  to  his  head,  he  laughingly  re 
marked,  "Boys,  there  goes  one  shingle  or!  my  roof."  He  paid 
no  further  heed  to  his  wound,  but  kept  on  loading  and  firing 
liis  gun.  Soon  a  bullet  grazed  the  opposite  side  of  the  head 

when  he  cried  out,  ''Hello;  I'm  d d  if  there  ain't  another 

shingle  gone."  Sherman  went  through  all  the  battles  in  which 
the  Regiment  was  engaged,  came  home  with  the  Regiment,  and 
was  drowned  in  Lake  Champlain. 

Another  instance  of  coolness  was  that  of  Lee  Belden  oi  Co. 
D.  A  rebel  bullet  struck  one  of  the  rotten  logs  which  the  boys 
had  placed  in  front  of  them  for  breastworks,  and  threw  the  dust 
and  dirt  into  the  face  and  eyes  of  Belden.  Wiping  his  eyes, 
and  blowingand  spitting  the  dirt  from  his  mouth,  he  said,  "Thar, 
condemn  yer,  yer  think  you've  done  it,  don't  yer;''  and  firing  his 
gun  at  the  advancing  Rebels  cried  out,  ' '  By  lightning  !  take  that. 

Henry  Sartwell,  of  the  same  company,  received  a  bad  wound 
in  the  arm.  He  had  his  wound  dressed  by  a  surgeon,  and  re 
turning  to  his  company  did  good  work  with  a  navy  revolver, 
until  becoming  exhausted  from  loss  of  blood  he  had  to  retire  to 
the  rear. 

William  Manning  of  Co.  A  was  severely  wounded,  and  \vas 
taken  to  the  rear  by  two  or  three  boys  of  the  same  company, 


3 ft  REMINISCENCES    OF 

Joshua  Allen  being  one.  While  they  were  earning  him  up  the 
slope  in  front  of  the  Chancellorsville  House,  the  shells,  solid  shot 
and  bullets  flying  all  around  them,  a  piece  of  shell  hit  Joshua 
in  the  hip.  Instantly  dropping  poor  Manning,  he  clapped  his 
hand  upon  his  hip  and  gave  a  leap  into  the  air.  "There,"  said 
he,  ' '  I'm  shot,  and  in  the  back  too.  The  last  thing  the  old 
man  told  me  when  I  left  home  was  not  to  get  shot  in  the  back. " 
The  sight  was  so  comical,  that  with  death  staring  them  in  the 
face  as  it  was,  his  companions,  and  Manning,  though  severely 
wounded,  laughed  heartily. 

Thus  we  could  relate  many  instances  of  this  nature,  to  show 
that  amid  the  greatest  danger  the  soldiers  relished  the  ludicrous, 
but  we  have  a  long  way  yet  to  travel  before  the  Regiment  reaches 
home. 

The  Regiment  remained  in  its  position  near  Bank's  ford  Mon 
day  and  Tuesday,  and  Tuesday  night  Hooker  commenced  mov 
ing  the  troops  noiselessly  back  across  the  Rappahannock.  At 
about  6  o'clock  Wednesday  morning,  May  6th,  the  Regiment 
passed  out  of  their  works,  crossed  United  States  Ford,  and  took 
up  their  line  of  march  for  the  old  camp  at  Stafford,  which  they 
reached  at  sunset  in  a  hard  rain. 


THE     12JD    REGIMENT.  37 


CHAPTER    VII. 

IN  CAMP  AT  STAFFORD  COURT  HOUSE— THE  REGIMENT  REVIEWED  BY 
GENS.  SLOCUM  AND  WILLIAMS— THE  LIEUTENANT'S  RIDE  TO  ACQUIA 
CREEK— CHANGE  OF  CAMP— THE  GETTYSBURG  CAMPAIGN  COMMENCED 
—A  SEVERE  DAY'S  MARCH— THE  BOYS  CONFISCATE  A  FEW  HORSES- 
GEN.  SLOCUM'S  REPLY  TO  A  SECESH. 

IT  was  a  sad  and  lonely  time  for  the  boys  of  the  i23d  Reg 
iment  the  night  they  reached  camp  at  Stafford  after  the 
battle  of  Chancellorsville.  They  then  fully  realized  the  ter 
rible  ordeal  through  which  they  had  passed.  Not  a  man 
but  had  lost  one  or  more  of  his  tent  mates,  and  over  some 
rude  log  huts  there  was  no  piece  of  shelter  tent  stretched, 
for  its  former  occupants  were  either  dead  or  wounded.  On  that 
first  roll  call  after  reaching  camp  there  was  no  response  to  many 
a  name  called;  and  in  far  off  Northern  homes  many  sad  hearts 
were  waiting  for  loved  ones  whose  voices  never  more  will  greet 
them.  The  boys  will  well  remember  the  loneliness  of  that  first 
night's  camp  at  Stafford  after  the  battle.  But  a  soldier's  life 
dues  not  admit  of  much  mourning,  and  the  heavy  picket  duty 
and  other  duties;  occupied  all  their  time.  Around  the  camp 
fires  at  night,  the  main  topic  of  conversation  was  in  recounting 
the  good  deeds  of  Harrison,  Corbett,  Gillet,  Norton,  Bishop, 


38  REMINISCENCES     OF 

Howard  and  the  many  others  who  gave  up  their  lives  in  this, 
their  first  great  battle  for  the  right. 

On  the  9th  of  May  the  Regiment  was  reviewed  by  Gens.  Slo- 
cum  and  Williams,  and,  by  Gen.  Slocum,  highly  compliment 
ed  for  their  fine  conduct  at  the  battle,  but  these  encomiums 
did  not  reach  the  ears  of  companions  buried  in  the  trenches  at 
Chancellorsville,  yet  the  boys  felt  a  just  pride  in  the  praises  be 
stowed  on  them  by  their  commanding  general. 

The  1 2th  of  May  the  entire  Regiment  was  ordered  on  picket, 
on  account  of  some  Rebel  cavalry  scare. 

Many  of  the  soldiers  visited  the  wounded  who  were  in  the 
hospital  at  Acquia  Creek,  and  among  others  was  the  writer  and 
Lieut.  Carrington  of  Co.  C.  We  borrowed  an  old  horse  whose 
backbone  was  as  sharp  as  the  back  of  a  knife,  and  throwing  an 
army  blanket  on  his  back  led  him  to  a  rail  fence,  and  mounting 
the  topmost  rail  managed  after  awhile  to  get  well  seated  on  our 
"fiery  steed."  The  Lieutenant  in  the  meantime  had  borrowed 
a  mule' — one  of  those  little  army  mules ;  had  become  mounted, 
and  was  rejoicing  in  the  possession  of  one  spur  which  a  colored 
boy  was  attaching  to  his  boot  heel.  All  at  once  the  mule's  heels 
shot  up  into  the  air,  and  the  Lieutenant  shot  straight  over  the 
mule's  head  and  landed  on  the  ground  about  six  feet  in  front. 
The  mule  being  free  started  on  a  run,  with  the  darkey  after  him 
shouting,  "Stop  dat  mool !  stop  dat  mool!"  The  Lieutenant 
slowly  arose  from  the  ground  rubbing  his  bones,  and  declared 
that  "that  darkey  ought  to  be  shot  for  jabbing  the  spur  into  the 
mule. "  The  mule  was  led  up  and  the  Lieutenant  remounted, 
the  darkey  all  the  while  declaring,  "What  de  debbil  ail  dat  mool 
anyhow.  I  done  gone  fix  dat  spur  all  right."  WTe  finally  got 
under  way,  the  Lieutenant's  head  being  about  even  with  our 
horse's  back  as  we  rode  along  together.  We  had  proceeded 
about  one  mile  on  our  way  when  from  some  cause  the  mule 


THE     123!)    REGIMENT.  39 

commenced  to  kick  again,  and  in  spite  of  Luke's  good  general 
ship,  he  was  tumbled  off  on  the  ground.  He  got  up  saying 
he  would  ride  that  mule  to  Acquia  Creek  if  it  took  him  a  week, 
and  started  for  the  mule,  which  was  making  good  time  for 
camp.  We  waited,  seated  on  our  "camel,"  until  the  Lieuten 
ant  returned,  and  then  proceeded  to  the  hospital  without  any 
further  mishaps.  On  the  way  we  halted  at  Mrs.  Morton's  for  a 
drink  of  water,  and  for  the  first  time  in  many  months  met  and 
conversed  with  ladies. 

On  the  2ist  of  May  the  cam})  was  changed  to  a  much  better 
location,  the  ground  being  very  level.  Company  streets  were 
properly  laid  out,  each  street  being  a  certain  number  of  feet  in 
width  and  length,  a  certain  number  of  tents  being  allowed  on 
each  side  of  the  streets,  about  three  feet  apart.  The  streets  were 
lurnpiked,  and  at  the  head  of  each  street  was  an  arch  of  ever 
greens,  and  suspended  from  the  centre  of  each  arch  the  letter  of 
the  company.  This  camp  presented  a  very  inviting  appearance, 
but  it  cost  davs  of  hard  labor  to  make  it  what  it  was.  The 
weather  was  exceedingly  warm  during  the  day,  with  cool  nights. 
It  was  almost  impossible  to  sleep  on  account  of  the  woodticks 
and  mosquitoes,  (and  these  mosquitoes  seemed  to  take  as  much 
delight  in  presenting  THEIR  BILLS  as  we  do  in  presenting  OUR 
BILLS  to  delinquents:  the  only  difference  being  theirs  received 
immediate  attention. ) 

About  as  soon  as  the  boys  had  got  their  camp  fixed  to  suit 
them,  orders  came  to  get  ready  to  march,  which  was  June  3d, 
about  3  o'clock  in  the  morning,  but  they  did  not  strike  tents  un 
til  the  morning  of  June  i3th,  when  the  boys  were  aroused  with 
orders  to  start  at  5  o'clock.  They  were  in  line  by  that  time,  and 
marched  to  Gen.  Williams'  headquarters,  where  was  found  the 
balance  of  the  brigade;  and  then  commenced  the  Gettysburg 
campaign,  but  they  did  not  know  it  at  the  time.  The  day  was 


4O  REMINISCENCES    OF 

very  hot  and  the  roads  dusty,  but  the}-  marched  most  of  the 
time  in  the  woods,  and  arrived  within  about  two  miles  of  Brook's 
Station  without  being  much  fatigued,  and  were  marched  into  a 
field.  The  boys  thought  this  might  be  a  change  of  location,  or 
certainly  a  night's  camp,  and  went  to  work  putting  up  their 
tents  and  making  themselves  comfortable  for  the  night,  and  had 
just  got  everything  nicely  arranged, ,  when  orders  came  to  pack 
up  and  get  ready  to  move  in  30  minutes.  There  were  a  good 
many  '  'cuss  words'  used,  but  that  did  not  help  matters  any,  and 
by  5  o'clock  the  column  was  marching  back  towards  Stafford, 
going  in  the  same  road  traveled  in  the  morning.  Reaching 
Stafford  they  did  not  stop  as  many  expected,  but  kept  on  until 
Dumfries  was  reached,  which  was  at  about  8  o'clock  the  next 
morning.  This  was  a  hard  night's  march  for  the  boys.  The 
roads  were  bad  enough  to  march  over  in  daylight,  but  at  night 
it  was  much  worse,  and  many  a  fall  was  taken,  to  the  amuse 
ment  of  others.  But  there  is  an  end  to  all  things,  and  daylight 
put  an  end  to  their  stumbles  and  falls. 

At  Dumfries  the  Regiment  remained  until  about  3  o'clock  the 
next  morning,  the  i5th,  when  they  took  up  their  line  of  march 
for  Fairfax  Court  House.  It  was  one  of  the  hottest  days  ever 
experienced  by  the  boys  while  on  a  march.  They  carried  heavy 
loads  with  them — clothing,  tents,  knapsack,  haversack,  canteen, 
coffee  kettle,  gun  and  accoutrements,  ammunition,  etc.  Many 
received  sunstroke  that  day,  and  some  died.  All  through  the 
long  day  they  dragged  themselves  along.  Here  and  there  by 
the  roadside  could  be  seen  great  stout  men  who  had  become  ex 
hausted,  could  go  no  further,  and  had  dropped  out  of  the  ranks. 
No  good  water  was  to  be  had  along  the  line  of  march,  but  some 
drank  too  much  of  what  they  could  get  and  were  the  first  to  suc 
cumb  to  the  heat.  One  plucky  soldier  was  determined  to  come 
into  camp  with  his  company,  and  so  was  put  on  a  horse,  and 
helped  into  camp  in  that  way.  Just  at  dark  the  Regiment  went 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  4t 

into  camp  near  Fairfax  Court  House;  but  not  the  whole  Reg 
iment,  for  many  had  lain  down  by  the  roadside  to  sleep.  Just 
as  they  marched  into  camp  a  brass  band  struck  up  a  national  air, 
which  seemed  to  infuse  new  life  into  the  weary  and  exhausted 
soldiers,  for  they  cheered  most  lustily. 

At  Dumfries  many  of  the  boys  supplied  themselves  with  hor 
ses,  which  were  abundant  thereabouts,  and  as  the  Regiment  filed 
out  of  cam})  from  Dumfries  that  morning  it  would  have  required 
some  good  judgment  to  have  decided  whether  it  was  a  Regiment 
of  cavalry  or  mounted  infantry.  Every  few  moments  a  horse  was 
brought  in  with  a  gun  strap  around  his  neck,  and  half-a-dozen 
knapsacks  would  be  strapped  on,  much  to  the  annoyance  of  the 
secesh  owners,  and  as  much  to  the  gratification  of  the  weary 
and  foot-sore  soldiers.  One  man  from  whom  a  fine  young 
horse  had  been  taken,  came  to  Gen.  Slocum  and  complained 
piteously  that  he  had  been  robbed  by  the  Yankees.  The  gen 
eral  asked  him  if  "he  was  a  Union  man."  He  replied,  "Wa'll, 
no,  not  exactly. ''  "Did  they  burn  your  house  and  barn,  and 
kill  all  your  cattle?''  asked  the  general.  "No."  "Well  sir," 
said  the  general,  "you  ought  to  thank  God,  and  consider  your 
self  fortunate,"  shrugged  his  shoulders  and  rode  off,  leaving  the 
traitor  to  meditate  on  "Northern  aggression,"  the  "Lincoln 
dogs'  and  "Yankee  barbarism. ' 

When  the  boys  struck  the  road  leading  from  the  Occoquan  to 
Fairfax  Station  it  was  almost  like  getting  home,  for  they  had 
inarched  over  the  same  road  no  less  than  five  times  in  their 
journeyings  to  and  from  the  river  six  months  previous.  But 
this  brought  up  afresh  the  memory  of  companions  who  were 
then  joyous  and  full  of  hope,  but  who  now  sleep  their  last 
sleep  on  the  bloody  field  of  Chancellorsville. 


42  REMINISCENCES    OF 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

MARCH  TO  LEESBURG— GOOD  FORAGING— CO.  A'S  100  POUNDS  OF  HON 
EY—THREE  MEN  SHOT  FOR  DESERTION— FROM  LEESBURG  TO  GETTYS- 
BURG-THE  BATTLE  OPENED. 

WEDNESDAY  morning  the  Regiment  left  Fairfax  Court 
House  and  moved  about  nine  miles,  and  camped  in 
the  midst  of  a  delightful  country  on  Prospect  Hill.  Here  the 
boys  found  good  "foraging,"  and  for  a  short  time  lived  in  clover. 
Thursday  morning  they  pushed  on,  passing  a  small  village 
called  Dranesville,  and  reached  Goose  Creek,  which  the  boys 
had  to  ford,  there  being  no  bridge  at  the  point  where  they 
crossed.  Soon  after  crossing  this  creek  a  heavy  rain  came  on, 
which  continued  until  after  they  had  made  camp  at  Leesburg. 
The  country  in  the  vicinity  of  this  place  strikingly  resembled 
Northern  farms.  Rolling,  fertile,  \vell  wooded  and  watered, 
with  fine  crops  of  \vheat,  rye,  oats,  corn,  potatoes,  &c.  The 
boys  made  good  use  of  this  abundance,  and  every  night  squads 
of  half-a-do/en  "skirmishers"  came  in  loaded  with  fowls,  milk, 
butter,  flour,  mutton,  veal,  pork,  onions  and  hosts  of  other  lux 
uries.  One  evening  a  few  of  Co.  A's  men  went  out  on  an  ex 
ploring  expedition,  and  were  rewarded  by  two  Iarg2  hives  of 
honey,  weighing  nearly  100  pounds.  About  midnight  they  en- 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  43 

tered  camp  with  the  spoils.  The  whole  company  were  waked 
up,  a  fire  kindled,  and  for  nearly  two  hours  there  was  one  of  the 
most  interesting  "conference  meetings"  ever  enjoyed.  Jolly 
peals  of  laughter  rang  out  again  and  again,  until  the  officers 
sent  word  to  "cease  laughing."  Next  morning  the  honey  mar 
ket  was  dull,  and  toothache  remedies  were  in  good  demand. 
The  town  was  a  perfect  nest  of  sneering  Rebels.  They  insulted 
the  soldiers  in  every  way  they  thought  safe.  The  people  were 
the  bitterest  in  their  hatred  of  the  '  Northern  Mudsills"  of  any 
they  had  met.  Still  many  of  their  houses  were  guarded,  but 
these  guards  were  more  sensible  than  their  officers,  and  had 
strange  ways  of  not  seeing  things  sometimes.  The  ladies  were 
the  most  outspoken  and  bitter.  They  took  every  possible  means 
to  avoid  a  soldier,  and  would  step  into  a  yard  and  wait  for  a 
soldier  to  pass,  and  if  there  was  no  gate  near  for  them  to  pass 
through,  they  would  go  into  the  middle  of  the  road.  One  wom 
an  said  she  would  not  pass  under  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  so  in 
her  absence  from  her  house  one  day  some  one  put  a  flag  over 
her  door,  an  J  she  was  compelled  to  either  walk  under  the  flag  or 
remain  out.  She  chose  the  former. 

On  Friday,  June  iyth,  three  men  in  the  division,  and  two  of 
them  in  the  brigade,  were  shot  for  desertion;  two  in  the  46th 
Penn.,  and  one  in  the  i3th  New  Jersey.  The  scene  was  terribly 
impressive.  They  were  busy  writing  to  friends  during  the  whole 
of  the  f)rjao3ii,  and  with  one  exception  seemed  penitent  for 
their  crime.  At  12  o'clock  the  corps  was  formed  into  a  hollow 
square  in  a  large  field  near  the  camp.  Gens.  Slocum,  Williams 
and  Geary,  with  their  staffs,  were  present.  At  i  p.  M.  an  am 
bulance,  tightly  closed,  containing  the  criminals,  made  its  ap 
pearance,  surrounded  and  followed  by  a  large  guard.  Immedi 
ately  in  front  of  it  was  an  army  wagon  carrying  the  coffins  which 
rattled  a  dismal  dirge  that  must  have  grated  painfully  on  the 
ears  of  the  unfortunate  men.  On  arriving  at  the  scene  of  the 


44  REMINISCENCES     OF 

execution  they  were  helped  out  of  the  ambulance,  conducted 
past  their  graves,  blindfolded,  and,  with  their  hands  pinioned, 
seated  on  their  coffins.  The  sight  was  touching,  and  impressed 
even  the  most  hardened.  Three  stout,  robust  young  men,  in 
the  full  flush  and  vigor  of  manhood,  waiting  to  be  coolly  and 
deliberately  shot  down  by  companions  in  arms.  The  firing  party 
consisted  of  a  squad  of  soldiers,  four  from  each  regiment,  who 
had  been  previously  detailed  for  that  purpose,  in  charge  of  the 
Provost  Marshal.  The  guns  had  been  taken  into  a  tent,  some 
of  them  loaded  and  then  laid  in  a  pile,  the  soldiers  not  knowing 
whiah  were  loaded  with  bullets.  The  firing  party  was  then 
marched  up  in  front  of  the  victims,  and  stationed  at  a  distance 
of  about  three  rods  from  them.  The  chaplain  then  made  an 
impressive  and  earnest  prayer,  commending  these  erring  ones  to 
the  mercy  of  the  Heavenly  Friend.  He  closed;  the  Provost 
Marshal  made  a  few  final  arrangements;  the  sentence  of  the 
Court-Martial  was  read  to  them,  and  the  friends  who  had  been 
standing  beside  them  withdrew.  At  a  signal  thirty-six  guns 
came  to  a  ready — a  moment  of  deathly  silence — the  sharp  flash, 
the  rattle  of  the  muskets,  the  fall  of  the  corpses  on  their  coffins, 
and  twenty  thouscnd  soldiers  had  learned  that  it  was  a  serious 
thing  to  forsake  the  Government  they  had  sworn  to  defend. 
The  corps  was  then  marched  past  the  corpses,  which  had  fallen 
stone  dead,  with  five,  seven  and  eight  bullets  in  them  respective 
ly.  Many  a  face  which  never  knew  a  tremor  in  battle  turned  pale 
at  the  sight  of  these  gaping,  bloody  wounds.  The  troops  marched 
back  to  their  quarters,  the  graves  were  filled  up,  and  these  men 
who  had  been  shot  for  desertion  were  forgotten  forever,  save  by 
their  immediate  friends. 

The  Rebel  citizens  cut  the  telegraph  wire  between  Leesburg 
and  Alexandria.  Gen.  Slocum  issued  an  order  that  if  the  wire 
was  again  meddled  with  he  would  burn  the  town.  This  order 
had  its  desired  effect,  for  the  wire  was  not  again  disturbed. 


THE     123!)    REGIMENT.  45 

June  24th  the  entire  Regiment  was  sent  out  on  picket;  a  ru 
mor  having  reached  camp  that  the  Rebel  cavalry  were  advancing 
probably  had  something  to  do  with  this  move.  Long  before 
daylight  of  the  25th  the  Regiment  was  in  line  ready  to  meet  the 
Rebel  cavalry  should  the}'  make  a  dash.  Daylight  came,  but 
the  Rebels  did  not.  The  Regiment  remained  on  the  picket  line  all 
that  da}- and  night,  and  the  next  morning  orders  came  to  march. 
They  were  soon  on  the  move,  overtaking  the  brigade  just  before 
crossing  the  Potomac  river  at  Edwards'  Ferry  into  Maryland. 
They  marched  all  day.  passing  a  village  called  Pottsville,  and 
camped  about  four  miles  from  it.  It  was  very  bad  marching 
for  the  boys;  rain  poured  down  nearly  all  da}'  and  the  roads  were 
very  muddy,  but  they  tramped  on  unmindful  of  the  storm  and 
mud,  making  the  best  of  everything  and  complaining  of  nothing. 

After  a  hasty  breakfast  the  morning  of  June  27th,  (and  a  sol 
dier  knows  what  a  hasty  breakfast  means,)  the  Regiment  started 
on  their  march  and  halted  for  dinner  by  the  railroad  track.  Two 
trains  of  cars  passed  while  the}-  were  taking  their  dinner.  Gen. 
Hooker  also  rode  by  on  his  big  black  charger  and  was  loudly 
cheered.  After  dinner  they  proceeded  on  their  march,  passing 
Point  of  Rocks,  and  proceeded  up  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio 
Canal  a  few  miles  and  then  passed  under  the  canal:  passed  Slab 
City  and  Petersburg!!,  and  camped  about  two  miles  from  the 
latter  village  for  the  night. 

On  the  27th  of  June,  Gen.  Hooker  was  relieved  of  the  com 
mand  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  Gen.  Meade  appointed 
his  successor.  This  change  of  Commanding  officer  on  the  eve 
of  battle,  as  it  were,  was  something  the  soldiers  could  not  under 
stand.  Gen.  Halleck  says,  in  his  report,  that  it  was  at  Hooker's 
own  request.  We  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  same  glorious 
results  would  have  been  achieved  at  Gettysburg  had  Gen. 
Hooker  been  in  command.  But  the  ways  of  the  rulers  at 


46  REMINISCENCES     OF 

Washington  were  past  finding  out  during  those  dark  days  of  the 
War  for  the  suppression  of  the  Rebellion. 

The  28th  the  Regiment  made  an  early  start,  going  back  about 
three  miles  over  the  road  marched  the  day  before,  and  struck  the 
Frederick  City  road.  They  passed  two  small  villages,  Center- 
ville  and  Jefferson,  and  camped  a  short  distance  from  Freder 
ick  City,  Md.  The  29th  they  made  a  good  march,  passing 
through  the  city,  and  camped  for  the  night  near  Ladiesburg. 
Nothing  occurred  during  the  march,  but  the  boys  were  weary 
and  foot-sore.  The  3Oth,  the  Regiment  took  up  their  line  of 
march  soon  after  3  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  pushed  rapidly 
forward,  passing  several  villages.  Crossing  the  line  into  Penn 
sylvania  they  passed  Taneytown,  and  when  in  sight  of  Littlestown 
the  boys  discovered  a  commotion  among  the  cavalrymen  in  the 
fields  far  in  advance.  Soon  news  came  back  that  the  ca vain- 
had  run  on  to  the  rebel  picket.  The  troops  were  halted;  Gens. 
Slocum  and  Geary  dashed  forward  and  soon  a  battery  came  up 
the  road  and  passed  on  to  the  front,  the  horses  on  a  dead  run. 
As  soon  as  the  battery  had  passed  the  command  "fall  in"  was 
heard,  and  every  man  was  up  and  in  his  place  in  a  moment. 
"Forward,  double  quick,"  was  given,  and  the  boys  went  tear 
ing  along  after  the  battery.  Reaching  Littlestown  they  found 
the  entire  population  out.  On  every  doorstep  and  on  the  walks 
in  front  of  the  houses  were  stationed  men,  women  and  children, 
each  holding  a  pan  or  basket  of  cakes,  pails  of  water,  cold 
meats,  &c. ,  and  on  the  upper  piazza  of  the  small  hotel  was  con 
gregated  a  crowd  of  ladies  and  gentlemen,  singing  that  grand 
old  tune,  "  Hail  Columbia.''  Some  of  the  ladies  were  in  tears 
and  all  waved  their  handkerchiefs.  The  boys  appreciated,  but 
did  not  have  much  time  to  enjoy  the  hospitalities  of  the  people 
of  Littlestown,  nor  the  smiles  of  the  ladies,  but  some  of  them  did 
grab  a  handful  of  cake  as  they  passed  by.  On  through  the  vil- 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  47 

lage  the  Regiment  went,  and  never  halted  until  nearly  one  mile 
beyond,  when  they  halted  and  were  marched  into  a  large  field 
with  the  balance  of  the  Brigade.  Here  they  remained  for  the 
night. 

As  the  cavalry  advance  came  into  Littlestown,  one  old  man 
volunteered  to  show  them  where  a  squad  of  Rebel  cavalry  were. 
True  to  his  word  the  old  man  piloted  them  right,  and  soon  the 
cavalry  were  engaged;  but  instead  of  retreating  when  the  fight 
commenced  the  old  man  went  in  on  his  own  hook.  He  dragged 
one  Rebel  from  his  horse,  and  having  no  arms,  CHOKED  HIM  IN 
TO  SUBMISSION. 

July  ist  the  Regiment  retraced  their  steps  about  one  mile,  and 
struck  the  road  leading  to  Gettysburg.  They  had  proceeded 
but  a  short  distance  on  the  way  when  cannonading  was  heard 
in  front,  and  news  soon  came  from  the  front  that  our  forces  were 
engaging  the  Rebels  near  Gettysburg.  The  Regiment  was 
pushed  rapidly  forward,  and  finally  marched  into  the  woods,  and 
kept  moving  all  day  through  the  woods,  over  fences  and  across 
swamps,  until  the  boys  were  completely  exhausted.  The  Reg 
iment  kept  gradually  approaching  a  position  on  the  hill, 
and  about  night  formed  line  of  battle  near  Wolf  Hill  on  the 
right  of  the  Baltimore  pike,  and  in  sight  of  Gettysburg,  and  lay 
down  with  guns  in  hand  to  await  further  orders.  They  were  not 
disturbed  that  night,  but  on  the  morning  of  July  2d  they  moved 
forward  and  took  position  near  the  Cemetery,  the  right  of  the 
Corps  resting  on  Rock  Creek.  Green's  Brigade  joined  the  i23d 
Regiment  on  the  left,  the  right  of  the  Regiment  reaching  nearly 
to  Spangle's  Spring.  Here  they  threw  up  breastworks.  The 
boys,  remembering  Chancellorsville,  were  determined  to  have 
good  works  this  time,  and  went  to  work  with  a  will.  They 
worked  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  chopping  down  trees  and 
shoveling  dirt,  and  made  works  that  would  stand  a  shell.  To- 


48  REMINISCENCP:S  OF 

wards  night  the  battle  raged  furiously  on  the  left,  and  the  Reg 
iment  was  ordered  to  the  rear  of  Round  Top,  the  extreme  left  of 
the  line,  to  support  the  forces  there  engaged.  The  shells  from 
the  Rebel  guns  struck  all  around  them  in  their  march  there, 
but  no  one  was  wounded.  Here  and  there  they  passed  a  dead 
soldier.  Down  a  hill,  away  in  front  of  them,  came  tearing  what 
they  supposed  was  a  battery,  believing  from  this  manoeuvre  that 
our  forces  had  been  pressed  back,  but  on  a  nearer  approach  it 
proved  to  be  a  Dutch  sergeant  of  artillery  going  to  the  rear  for 
ammunition  with  his  caissons.  As  he  dashed  by  he  yelled  out, 
"Dis  ish  nod  a  retread,  dis  ish  nod  a  retread  !"  The  boys  were 
very  glad  it  was  "nod  a  retread,"  and  pressed  forward,  but  soon 
the  firing  ceased  and  they  were  ordered  back.  It  was  about 
dark  when  they  returned,  and  the  1236.  Regiment  being  on  the 
lead,  Lieut.  Beadle  with  part  of  Co.  I  were  sjnt  out  as  skirmish 
ers.  All  was  still  on  the  line,  and  it  was  not  known  who  occu 
pied  the  works,  friend  or  foe,  as  hard  lighting  had  been  heard  in 
that  direction  after  they  left  the  works  to  go  to  the  support  of 
the  left.  Lieut.  Beadle  with  his  usual  fearlessness  advanced  his 
line,  and  on  a  near  approach  challenged,  and  was  answered, 
"Come  on,  it's  all  right.''  Advancing,  he  made  the  startling  dis 
covery  that  they  were  Rebels.  He  was  taken  prisoner  himself, 
but  had  the  bravery  to  call  loudly  to  his  men,  "Fall  back  men,  ' 
and  they  were  thus  saved  capture.  As  soon  as  the  men  heard 
the  command  to  fall  back  they  opened  fire  upon  the  Rebels,  and 
they  returned  the  fire.  The  Regiment  in  the  meantime  had 
halted  at  the  foot  of  a  hill,  being  in  line  of  battle,  the  balance  of 
the  Brigade  being  in  line  of  battle  by  regiments  in  the  rear  of 
the  1 23d.  At  the  time  the  Rebels  opened  fire  on  the  skirmish 
ers  it  was  quite  dark,  and  the  bullets  passed  over  the  Regiment 
and  into  the  46th  Pennsylvania,  which  was  next  in  rear.  The 
1 23d  commenced  immediately  to  fall  back  up  the  hill,  and  the 
46th  must  have  thought  they  were  Rebels,  for  some  of  them  fired 


THE   1230  RP:GIMENT.  49 

into  the  former.     At  that  the   1236.  moved  back  more  rapidly, 
and  the  4 6th  broke  into  a  run. 


CHAPTER     IX. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG  CONTINUED— INCIDENTS— A  RECONNOIS- 
SANCE— THE  BATTLE  ENDED— BURYING  THE  DEAD— LIST  OF  KILLED 
AND  WOUNDED. 

IT  seems  that  the  Rebel  Gen.  Ewell,  knowing  of  the  weaken 
ing  of  the  Union  lines  by  the  withdrawal  of  the  Brigade  to 
which  the  i23d  Regiment  belonged,  tc  help  repel  the  attack  of 
Longstreet  and  Hill  on  the  left,  determined  to  improve  the  ad 
vantage  offered,  and  take  Gulp's  and  Wolfs  hills  to  the  right  and 
southeast  of  Cemetery  hill,  massed  his  forces  first  against  the  po 
sition  of  the  nth  Corps  on  Cemetery  hill,  and  afterward  on 
Green's  Brigade  of  Geary's  Division.  The  attack  on  the  nth 
corps  was  speedily  repulsed.  E well's  success  was  somewhat  bet 
ter  in  his  attempt  on  the  lines  further  to  the  Union  right.  He 
attacked  Green's  Brigade  with  great  fury  but  was  received  with 
most  resolute  courage,  and  the  whole  ground  in  front  of  Green's 
breastworks  was  covered  with  the  killed  and  wounded.  Although 
repelled  from  Green's  breastworks  the  Rebels  succeeded  in  pen 
etrating  a  point  inside  the  Union  lines  near  Spangle's  Spring, 
which  had  been  vacated  by  the  12 3d  and  the  balance  of  the 


50  REMINISCENCES     OF 

Brigade.  After  it  was  found  the  Rebels  held  the  works  the 
Brigade  fell  back  over  the  hill  and  lay  all  night  in  a  corn  field. 
The  next  morning,  July  3d,  a  battery  on  a  knoll  just  in  rear 
of  the  Brigade  on  the  Baltimore  turnpike  commenced  firing,  de 
pressing  their  guns  so  as  to  rake  the  woods  and  breastworks  lately 
occupied  by  the  Brigade.  One  gun  fell  short  several  times,  kill 
ing  one  man  in  the  Regiment  and  several  in  the  Brigade. 

During  the  day  the  2oth  Connecticut  boys  had  been  on  the 
skirmish  line,  and  about  noon  the  I23d  relieved  them.  The 
Regiment  proceeded  to  the  edge  of  the  woods  and  threw  out 
skirmishers  with  orders  for  them  to  advance.  They  did  so,  driv 
ing  the  Rebel  skirmishers,  the  Regiment  in  the  meantime  ad 
vancing  to  their  support.  As  soon  as  the  Regiment  came  in 
sight  of  the  works  they  had  left  the  clay  before  they  gave  a  cheer 
and  a  rush,  and  gained  them  without  loss  of  life,  the  Rebels  be- 
i  ng  driven  over  the  works  with  great  slaughter.  The  Brigade 
followed,  and  the  gap  which  had  been  made  in  the  right  of  the 
line  at  Spangle's  Spring  was  closed.  It  was  then  the  boys  dis 
covered  the  havoc  that  had  been  made  by  the  battery  spoken  of, 
and  by  the  skirmishers.  The  dead  lay  on  the  ground  in  every 
direction.  There  had  been  hard  fighting  all  day  at  this  point. 

After  the  retaking  of  the  works  by  the  i23cl  Regiment,  and 
the  retreat  of  Kwell's  troops  to  the  west  and  the  northwest  of  the 
town  of  Gettysburg,  the  enemy  remained  quiet  until  i  o'clock 
p.  M.  ,  when  they  opened  fire  with  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
to  one  hundred  and  fifty  guns  on  the  centre  and  left,  the  posi 
tion  of  Gen.  Hancock's  Corps,  which,  from  the  want  of  natural 
defences,  was  the  weakest  portion  of  the  Union  lines. 
The  Union  batteries,  fully  equal  in  number  and  calibre,  replied 
promptly,  and  for  the  next  two  hours  the  earth  shook  and  trem 
bled  under  the  feet  of  the  two  armies  with  the  terrible  concus 
sion.  The  air  seemed  filled  with  iron  missiles,  and  the  forest 


THE     123!)    REGIMENT.  5! 

trees  were  rivx-n,  torn  and  splintered  as  if  struck  by  lightning. 
The  shells  fell  thick  and  fast  around  the  Regiment.  Three  hun 
dred  pieces  of  artillery !  -Such  a  terrific  roar  was  never  heard 
before  and  probably  never  will  be  heard  again.  The  birds 
seemed  confused,  and  would  fly  down  and  light  on  the  heads 
and  knapsacks  of  the  soldiers  ;  rabbits  would  come  out  from 
under  the  bushes  and  hide  under  the  soldiers'  coats. 

They  had  a  sharp  fight  in  the  afternoon,  and  at  4  P.  M.  were 
ordered  to  support  the  line  at  the  left  of  the  Cemetery.  They 
reached  that  point  just  in  time  to  see  the  broken  masses  of  the 
enemy  sullenly  withdrawing  from  the  field.  In  the  twilight,  as 
they  were  retiring  to  the  right  of  their  old  position,  and  in  cross 
ing  a  ravine,  they  were  tired  upon  by  sharpshooters  concealed  in 
McAllister's  Mill,  beyond  Rock  Creek.  Capt.  Norman  F.  Weer 
of  Co.  E  received  a  wound  in  the  knee  from  which  he  died. 
Crossing  the  ravine  into  the  woods  the  boys  prepared  coffee,  and 
remained  there  until  after  dusk  and  then  moved  to  their  old 
position  and  lay  on  their  arms.  About  midnight  the  pickets  dis 
covered  the  enemy  advancing  and  fired  on  them,  and  then  came 
into  the  brestworks.  The  line  than  opened  a  terrific  fire  on  the 
advancing  rebels,  driving  them  back  with  great  slaughter. 

The  morning  of  July  4th  dawned  bright  and  beautiful.  There 
being  no  evidence  of  the  enemy  in  front  the  boys  went  over  the 
works  in  quest  of  the  wounded.  Wesley  P.  Huntington  of  Co. 
C  was  brought  in  dead.  They  buried  him  on  the  field  'neath 
the  shade  of  a  large  oak  tree,  there  to  remain  until  the  roll  call 
of  that  day  when  all  shall  assemble  at  the  call  of  the  Great 
Commander.  Among  the  many  wounded  Rebels  brought  in 
was  one  South  Carolinian  who  was  wounded  severely.  The  boys 
did  everything  they  could  for  him — -brought  him  hot  coffee  and 
the  best  of  what  they  had  to  eat,  and  a  doctor  to  dress  his  wounds. 
He  received  these  acts  of  kindness  with  seeming  astonishment, 


52  REMINISCENCES     OF 

and  with  tears  running  down  his  face  thanked  them,  and  said  he 
did  not  expect  such  kindness  from  the  ' '  Yanks. "  He  expected 
to  be  treated  with  roughness  and  perhaps  cruelty,  and  had  tried 
to  crawl  away  but  was  unable  to  do  so.  He  said  if  he  could 
only  live  to  get  home  to  his  wife  and  children  he  should  never 
raise  a  hand  against  the  Yankees  or  the  dear  old  flag  again. 

Many  of  the  boys  had  very  narrow  escapes.  One  in  particu 
lar,  Thomas  J.  Wrangham,  of  Co.  C.  He  was  on  the  picket 
line,  in  charge  of  a  section  of  the  line.  Being  hard  pressed  the 
line  fell  back  over  the  breastworks,  and  as  he  mounted  the  works 
a  bullet  struck  the  "U.  S. "  brass  plate  on  his  cartridge  box,  pas- 
ing  through  that  and  the  thick  leather  flap,  through  the  tin  box 
which  held  the  cartridges  and  lodged  in  the  leather  next  his  hip. 
Had  he  been  in  any  other  position  he  would  undoubtedly  have 
been  killed. 

Early  the  morning  of  July  4th  the  Regiment  was  ordered  to 
"fall  in."  "Where  now?"  was  the  inquiry  made  by  the  boys, 
but  none  of  them  knowing,  the  inquiry  remained  unanswered. 
Out  into  the  road  they  went,  and  there  found  three  or  four  other 
Regiments,  a  squad  of  cavalry  and  a  battery.  The  line  moved 
off,  the  cavalry  on  the  lead,  a  piece  of  artillery  being  sandwiched 
in  between  the  Regiments.  Around  the  right  of  the  army  they 
moved  cautiously,  every  moment  expecting  to  hear  the  rebel 
shells  in  their  midst.  Making  a  reconnoissance  of  about  eight 
miles  they  passed  through  Gettysburg,  and  by  the  Cemetery  to 
their  former  position,  without  seeing  a  sign  of  the  enemy.  The 
boys  then  knew  the  enemy  had  been  defeated  and  had  left.  It 
\vas  then  they  thanked  the  "Giver  of  every  good  and  perfect  gift " 
that  they  had  been  spared  through  another  terrible  battle. 

Large  details  were  made  to  bury  the  dead,  and  this  duty  occu 
pied  the  entire  day.  The  Corps  to  which  the  Regiment  belonged 
buried  that  day  fifteen  hundred  dead  Rebels.  The  dead  lay  in 
every  imaginable  shape.  From  the  position  of  some  of  the  bodies 


THE     I23D    REGIMENT.  53 

inside  of  the  works,  near  Spangle's  Spring,  it  appeared  as 
though  the  entire  picket  line  had  been  shot  down  while  in  pos 
session  of  the  works  vacated  by  the  Regiment.  Over  the  breast 
works  the  ground  was  literally  covered  with  dead  bodies.  Sev 
eral  rebel  officers  lay  there  in  their  handsome  gray  uniforms,  and 
among  others  Gen.  E well's  Assistant  Adjutant  General.  He  lay 
partly  under  his  horse,  and  both  were  riddled  with  bullets. 

In  the  National  Cemetery,  on  Cemetery  Hill,  now7  sleep  the 
brave  boys  who  fell  at  Gettysburg.  Here  repose  the  precious  of 
ferings  laid  upon  the  altar  of  the  country  by  the  loyal  States. 
Ordinarily  the  filling  up  of  a  Cemetery  is  slow7  work. — the  work 
years.  THREE  DAYS  SUFFICED  TO  FILL  THIS.  And  what  is  the  re 
ward  of  those  brave  men  for  their  weeks  of  weary  marching,  and 
days  and  nights  of  fearful  fighting?  "Two  paces  of  the  vilest 
earth."  There  they  lie,  those  "unnamed  demi-gods"  of  the 
rank  and  file.  "Unknown!"  "Unknown!"  The  only  epi 
taph  of  hundreds.  Yes,  there  they  lie,  "massed"  with  military 
precision,  rank  upon  rank,  as  if  awaiting  the  order  to  appear  in 
review  before  the  Great  Commander-in-chief  of  us  all. 

"  Up  many  a  fortress  wall 

They  charged,  those  Boys  in  Blue, 
'  Mid  surging  smoke  and  volleying  ball, 

The  bravest  were  the  first  to  fall — 
To  fall  for  me.  and  you." 

We  give  below  the  casualties  of  the  Regiment : 

A — Wounded — Wm.  H.  Fenton,  Orton  Wallace. 
B — Wounded — G.  W.  Smith,  John  R.  Hamilton. 
C — Killed — Wesley  P.  Huntington. 
E — Killed — John  Bell.     Wounded — George  E.  Rogers. 
F— Wounded — James  R.  Cronk. 
G — Wounded— George  Hodge, 
I — Lieut.  Marcus  Beadle  taken  prisoner. 
K — Killed — -Edward  Tanner.     Wounded — Wm.  Norton,  Wal 
ter  Smith. 


54  REMINISCENCES    OF 


CHAPTER    X. 

THE  KEGIMENT  LEAVES  THE  BATTLE  FIELD— MARCH  TO  FREDERICK 
CITY— A  SPY  HUNG— BIVOUAC  ON  THE  OLD  ANTIETAM  BATTLE  FIELD- 
BUILD  BREASTWORKS  AT  FALLING  WATERS— MARCH  THROUGH  HAR 
PER'S  FERRY— REACH  WARRENTON  JUNCTION. 

ABOUT  3  o'clock  Sunday  afternoon,  July  5th,  the  Regi 
ment  moved  out  of  their  works  at  Gettysburg  on  account 
of  the  terrible  stench  arising  from  the  dead,  and  marched  to  near 
Littlestown,  ten  miles  south-east  of  Gettysburg,  and  bivouacked 
for  the  night,  and  the  6th  marched  through  Littlestown  and 
halted  for  the  night  in  the  woods  about  two  miles  beyond  the 
village.  When  they  passed  through  the  village  hardly  a  person 
was  to  be  seen,  and  the  boys  could  not  believe  it  was  the  same 
village  they  had  passed  through  a  few  days  previous.  Then  all 
was  anxiety  and  alarm,  but  now  that  no  fears  were  entertained  of 
the  enemy,  the  real  sentiment  of  the  people  of  the  town  was 
made  manifest.  We  certainly  have  no  words  of  praise  for  the 
people  of  Littlestown,  for  their  conduct  was  not  praiseworthy. 

The  yth  of  July  the  Regiment  made  a  splendid  march  of  thirty- 
two  miles  and  bivouacked  within  a  mile  or  two  of  Frederick 
City.  The  boys  were  very  weary,  but  rejoicing  in  their  recent 
victory,  not  a  word  of  fault  was  found. 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  55 

It  rained  very  hard  the  morning  of  the  8th,  and  the  rain  con 
tinued  all  day.  At  5  o'clock  they  took  up  their  line  of  march, 
and  passed  through  Frederick  City  in  the  early  dawn.  Their 
curiosity  was  excited  by  seeing  a  man  hanging  from  a  limb  of  a 
tree,  and  on  close  inspection  it  proved  to  be  a  man  well  known 
to  the  boys  as  one  who  had  peddled  songs  through  the  camps  at 
Pleasant  and  Loudon  Valleys.  He  was  a  spy,  and  had  met  his 
just  deserts. 

The  Regiment  reached  Burketsville  and  camped  for  the  night, 
having  marched  about  twenty  miles.  Co.  C  was  sent  out  on 
picket,  and  a  terrible  time  they  had  of  it.  They  marched  over 
South  Mountain,  passing  through  Crampton  Gap,  and  after 
climbing  over  fallen  trees,  wading  brooks  and  falling  over  stumps 
and  rocks,  finally  formed  their  line.  The  Regiment  did  not 
march  far  the  next  day,  having  struck  the  Rebel  pickets.  They 
bivouacked  on  the  Little  Antietam  river. 

On  the  morning  of  the  loth  cannonading  was  heard  in  front. 
They  pushed  on,  passing  a  grave  yard  where  were  buried  the 
many  brave  boys  who  lost  their  lives  at  the  battle  of  Antietam, 
and  went  into  camp  on  the  old  battle  field.  The  boys  busied 
themselves  for  awhile  looking  over  the  field.  One  spot  deserves 
special  mention — the  famous  lane  in  which  the  Rebels  remained 
so  long,  doing  so  much  damage  to  our  troops.  It  had  been 
gullied  out  at  some  time  by  the  water,  and  formed  a  nat 
ural  rifle  pit.  Here  the  enemy,  supported  by  her  best  batteries, 
placed  themselves,  and  for  nearly  a  whole  day  could  not  be  driven 
from  their  position.  Finally  Mosher's  Irish  Brigade  made  their 
famous  charge  up  to  and  down  into  it.  And  there  they  stood 
upon  the  bank  spearing  the  rebels  in  the  pit  as  if  they  had  been 
so  many  fish.  It  was  said  nearly  every  man  in  the  pit  was  bay 
oneted  to  death.  The  dead  Rebels  were  buried  in  large  pits. 
On  one  of  the  largest  was  a  board  on  which  was  written,  ' '  The 


56  REMINISCENCES    OF 

Rebel  Gen.  Anderson  and  87  Rebels  are  buried  in  this  hole." 
"The  wages  of  sin  is  death,"  was  the  epitaph.  On  another  was 
the  following,  "Here  lie  60  Rebels,  and  Brig-.  Gen.  Calsey. 
He  lied  well  while  living;  he  seems  to  lie  well  while  dead,"  and 
on  another,  "Here  lies  a  poor  dead  fool ;  he  fought  for  his  right 
to  the  soil,  and  he  has  obtained  it." 

Early  on  the  morning  of  July  nth  the  Regiment  was  on  the 
move.  They  passed  through  a  small  village  called  Fairplay,  and 
soon  afterwards  ran  into  the  Rebels.  A  line  of  battle  was  formed, 
skirmishers  thrown  out,  and  an  advance  made.  The  skirmish 
ers  commenced  firing,  advancing  as  they  did  so,  driving  the 
Rebels  before  them.  A  battery  opened,  throwing  a  few  shells 
after  the  retreating  Rebels,  and  nothing  more  was  heard  from 
them.  The  Regiment  pushed  on,  formed  a  line  of  battle  near 
Falling  Waters,  and  commenced  building  breastworks,  working 
on  them  all  night.  In  the  rear  of  the  Regiment  was  a  wheat 
field,  the  wheat  cut  and  stacked.  These  the  boys  used  with  the 
rails,  which  were  plenty,  and  by  morning  as  splendid  a  line  of 
breastworks  as  were  ever  built  by  soldiers  was  to  be  seen.  The 
boys  in  the  Regiment  had  but  few  if  any  shovels,  and  used  their 
bayonets  to  loosen  the  dirt,  which  worked  easy,  and  then  their 
hands  and  staves  in  carrying  the  same.  There  was  no  shirking, 
each  man  working  with  a  will,  knowing  that  in  case  of  an  en 
gagement  the  lives  of  many  depended  upon  good  breastworks. 
No  grumbling,  no  fault  finding.  All  the  next  day  the  boys 
delved  away  strengthening  their  works. 

The  man  on  whose  farm  the  Regiment  had  built  their  works, 
and  whose  rail  fence  had  been  taken  to  build  them,  came  into 
camp  and  wanted  to  knowr  who  was  going  to  pay  him  for  his  rail 
fence,  and  how  he  was  going  to  tell  his  rails  from  his  neighbors'. 
The  boys  had  considerable  sport  with  the  old  fellow,  and  we 
are  sure  he  did  not  get  satisfactory  answers  to  his  inquiries. 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  S? 

Skirmishers  were  sent  out  when  the  Regiment  first  took  posi 
tion,  and  there  was  a  constant  warfare  between  them  and  the 
Rebel  pickets.  The  cavalry  relieved  the  boys  from  duty,  and 
with  their  carbines  made  it  warm  for  a  Rebel  who  dared  to  show 
his  head.  The  morning  of  July  i4th  the  Regiment  moved  out 
from  behind  their  works,  and  as  they  were  about  to  make  an  ad 
vance  movement  a  colored  man  came  in  from  the  Rebel  lines 
saying  the  Rebels  had  "  Dun  gone  an'  crossed  de  ribber. "  The 
boys  took  the  darkey  along  with  them,  telling  him  if  he  had  not 
told  the  truth  they  would  let  the  Rebels  shoot  him.  The  Regi 
ment  pushed  forward  without  meeting  with  any  opposition,  and 
found  that  the  darkey  had  told  the  truth  ;  the  Rebels  had  crossed 
the  river.  The  brisk  firing  kept  up  by  the  Rebel  pickets  was 
merely  a  blind  to  allow  their  army  to  get  across  the  river.  After 
pushing  forward  a  fewr  miles  the  Regiment  returned  to  their  old 
position  behind  the  breastworks  and  remained  there  for  the  night. 
During  the  night  the  rain  poured  down  in  torrents,  thoroughly 
wetting  every  man. 

The  1 5th  the  Regiment  was  on  the  road  early,  passing  Fair- 
play,  Sharpsburgh,  the  Antietam  Iron  Works,  and  camped  for 
the  night  about  three  miles  from  Harper's  Ferry.  In  one  place 
on  the  march  nearly  a  mile  was  saved  by  letting  dowrn  a  fence 
and  crossing  the  field.  The  owner  was  determined  the  army 
should  not  go  through  his  fields.  Suffice  it  to  say  he  did  not 
stop  them. 

The  morning  of  July  i6th  the  boys  were  up  at  3  o'clock, 
marched  over  Maryland  Heights  and  camped  near  Sandy  Hook. 
Here  they  remained  until  the  morning  of  the  i9th  when  they 
commenced  the  march  again,  passing  through  Harper's  Ferry 
and  by  the  Arsenal  where  Brown  and  his  followers  had  their  fight, 
across  the  Potomac  and  camped  some  distance  beyond.  The 
2oth  they  pushed  on,  passing  several  small  villages,  and  camped 


58  REMINISCENCES    OF 

near  Snicker's  Gap,  where  they  remained  until  the  morning  of 
the  23d,  when  they  again  took  up  their  march,  reaching  Ashby's 
Gap,  then  took  a  back  track  for  some  distance,  passing  Uppers- 
villeand  Piedmont  Station,  and  went  into  camp  about  10  o'clock 
weary  and  foot  sore. 

The  24th  of  July  the  Regiment  was  up  and  on  the  march  by 
3  o'clock,  marched  into  Manassas  Gap  where  the  boys  drew  their 
rations  of  hard  tack,  etc.  At  about  4  o'clock  the  next  morn 
ing,  without  breakfast,  the  Regiment  was  pushed  on  into  the 
Gap  nearly  to  Linden.  Resting  an  hour  or  two  they  were  hur 
ried  back  down  the  Gap,  and  at  nearly  midnight  bivouacked 
near  White  Plain.  The  25th  the  boys  were  allowed  a  morning's 
rest,  not  breaking  camp  until  about  8  o'clock,  when  they  moved 
on  to  Fairplain  and  were  ordered  to  pitch  tents  for  a  night's  rest. 
They  had  just  got  their  tents  up  when  orders  came  to  be  ready  to 
march  at  noon,  and  their  afternoon's  march  was  a  severe  one. 
Passing  Fairplain  Station  they  pushed  on  through  Thoroughfare 
Gap  and  camped  for  the  night  at  Haymarket  in  a  rain  storm. 
The  26th  they  were  on  the  road  by  6  o'clock,  passing  Greenwich, 
Catlet  Station,  and  camped  between  Catlet  Station  and  Warren- 
ton  Junction. 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  59 


CHAPTER     XI. 

AT  WARRENTON  JUNCTION— MARCH  TO  KELLY'S  FORD— THE  PAYMASTER 
AND  CONSCRIPTS  ARRIVE— ORDERS  TO  MARCH . 

THE  Regiment  remained  at  Warrenton  Junction  five  days. 
Trains  of  cars  passed  by  to  the  Station,  which  was  about 
one  mile  from  camp,  every  hour,  loaded  with  Government  ra 
tions.  It  was  very  lively  at  the  Station.  Squads  of  soldiers 
were  employed  unloading  the  cars  as  they  came  in,  and  the  six- 
mule  teams  were  employed  in  conveying  the  hard  tack,  etc.,  to 
the  different  Brigades  and  Regiments.  During  these  five  days 
the  boys  were  engaged  in  washing,  mending  and  resting. 

On  the  morning  of  the  3ist  of  July  they  struck  tents  and 
again  took  up  their  line  of  march,  for  where  they  knew  not,  nei 
ther  did  they  care.  Plodding  along  all  day,  joking  and  laugh 
ing,  and  with  eyes  wide  open  to  take  in  everything  they  passed, 
just  at  evening  they  heard  skirmishing  in  advance,  and  soon 
after  came  out  on  a  high  bluff,  overlooking  the  Rappahannock 
river  at  Kelly's  Ford,  and  formed  line  of  battle.  Away  across 
the  river  the  Rebels  could  be  seen  skedaddling  in  every  direc 
tion.  The  picket  line  of  the  Rebels  was  located  on  a  ridge  run 
ning  about  parallel  with  and  over  one  quarter  of  a  mile  from 
the  river.  Near  the  river  were  stationed  the  Rebel  vidette  posts, 


60  REMINISCENCES     OF 

and  when  the  troops  appeared  on  the  bluff,  so  intent  were  they 
watching  their  movements  they  did  not  observe  the  Union  skir 
mishers  who  were  stealthily  approaching  the  river,  until  they  had 
crossed  and  opened  fire.  Then  commenced  the  skedaddle 
which  was  observed  by  the  troops  on  the  bluff.  The  Regiment 
moved  down  the  hill  and  halted,  and  remained  over  night. 

From  April  till  the  arrival  of  the  troops  at  Kelley's  Ford,  the 
contestants  had  been  almost  constantly  engaged,  each  endeavor 
ing  to  deal  the  fatal  blow  that  was  intended  to  drive  its  antago 
nists  back  either  upon  Richmond  or  Washington.  Public  feeling 
both  North  arid  South  had  been  wrought  up  to  its  highest  pitch. 
Gen.  Meade,  who  had  superseded  Hooker,  it  was  hoped  by  the 
loyal  would  prove  himself  equal  to  the  emergency.  But  this  is 
a  matter  of  history;  we  have  only  to  do  with  the  i23d  Regi 
ment. 

Early  next  morning  the  Regiment  pushed  across  the  river  at 
the  same  place  they  did  when  on  their  way  to  the  battle  field  of 
Chancellorsville,  but  many  who  crossed  at  that  time  were  not 
present  this  ist  day  of  August,  1863.  As  soon  as  they  crossed 
the  river  pickets  were  sent  out,  and  shelter  tents  put  up.  Not  a 
tree  or  bush  to  keep  off  the  scorching  sun;  the  soil  was  sandv, 
and  so  warm  that  the  boys  said  eggs  could  be  roasted  if  left  in 
the  sand.  They  remained  in  the  hot  sand  one  day,  and  the 
second  moved  back  across  the  river  to  a  much  more  suitable 
place,  and  put  up  their  tents. 

The  boys  suffered  terribly  from  the  heat ;  in  fact  the  weather 
being  so  warm  but  two  hours  were  set  apart  for  drill- — from  half- 
past  five  to  half-past  six  in  the  morning,  and  the  same  hour  in 
the  afternoon,  so  all  the  boys  had  to  do  during  the  day  was  to 
keep  cool,  which  was  impossible.  The  picket  line  was  on  the 
bank  of  the  river,  not  a  great  distance  from  camp,  and  the  Rebel 
pickets  on  the  opposite  side.  There  was  no  firing  on  either  side 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  6  I 

and  they  occasionally  indulged  in  conversation.  A  very  pleas 
ant  camp  ground  was  made  at  this  place.  Every  soldier's  bunk 
was  raised  about  one  foot  from  the  ground,  built  by  driving  four 
crotched  sticks  into  the  ground,  and  placing  thereon  sticks  cut 
from  the  woods  near  by;  then  boughs  and  leaves  were  placed  on 
top,  an  army  blanket  thrown  over,  and  a  comfortable  bed  was 
had.  A  heavy  thunder  shower  now  and  then  came  on,  and  in 
one  instance,  some  of  the  boys  whose  bunks  were  not  high 
enough,  were  flooded  out.  The  brass  band  at  Brigade  head 
quarters  played  every  evening,  which  was  a  source  of  great  enjoy 
ment  to  the  boys,  for  the  band  played  well.  The  principal  topic 
of  conversation  was  the  paymaster  and  the  conscripts,  both  of 
whom  were  anxiously  looked  for — the  paymaster,  that  they  might 
have  money;  the  conscripts,  that  they  might  hear  from  home.  A 
Regiment  in  the  Brigade  camped  next  the  i2$d  was  sent  to 
New  York  to  help  quell  the  rioters.  How  the  boys  did  wish  this 
had  been  their  luck,  as  they  termed  it.  Some  evenings  a  prayer 
meeting  would  be  held  in  some  of  the  company  streets  by  a  mem 
ber  (/the  Christian  Commission,  which  was  as  well  attended  as 
prayer  meetings  usually  are. 

August  1 5th  orders  came  to  be  ready  to  move  at  a  moment's 
notice.  The  paymaster  gladdened  the  hearts  of  the  boys  by 
giving  four  months  pay,  and  about  the  same  time  the  conscripts 
put  in  an  appearance,  which  made  amusement  for  the  old  soldiers 
who  were  constantly  playing  harmless  tricks  on  them.  One  day 
a  conscript  was  seen  coming  out  of  his  tent  with  a  pair  of  boots 
in  his  hand,  and  going  up  to  a  squad  of  old  soldiers  who  were 
smoking  their  pipes  and  telling  stones,  inquired  where  he  could 
find  a  shoemaker,  as  he  wanted  his  boots  tapped.  He  was  di 
rected  to  the  tent  of  Gen.  Knipe,  Brigade  commander,  and  told 
that  he  would  there  find  a  shoemaker  by  the  name  of  Knipe  who 
who  would  be  glad  to  serve  him.  (Gen.  Knipe  was  by  trade  a 
shoemaker,  and  left  his  bench  and  kit  of  tools  for  the  army.) 


62  REMINISCENCES    OF 

The  conscript  wended  his  way  to  the  General's  headquarters  and 
inquired  of  the  guard  if  Gen.  Knipe  was  inside,  and  on  being  in 
formed  that  he  was,  walked  into  the  tent  and  said  he  had  come 
to  have  his  boots  tapped.  The  General  looked  up  sternly  at  first, 
but  in  an  instant  saw  that  he  was  a  conscript  and  had  been  made 
the  but  of  a  joke.  He  was  informed  of  his  mistake  by  the  Gen 
eral,  and  told  to  go  back  to  his  tent  and  not  let  the  old  soldiers 
fool  him. 

The  2Oth  of  August  a  soldier  from  the  2Oth  Connecticut  was 
to  have  been  shot  for  desertion,  but  a  postponement  of  a  week 
was  made  and  nothing  more  was  heard  of  it,  to  the  great  relief 
of  the  boys,  for  to  them  it  looked  too  much  like  murder,  this 
marching  a  man  up  and  shooting  him  without  showing  the  cause. 
September  4th  one  of  the  conscripts  from  the  46th  Pennsylvania 
swam  across  the  river  into  Rebeldom.  September  i2th  a  heavy 
rain  storm  broke  upon  the  camp,  blowing  over  tents,  uprooting 
trees,  overturning  ambulances,  etc.  This  was  followed  by  a  ter 
rific  rain,  which  deluged  the  whole  camp. 

On  the  1 3th  of  September  troops  commenced  moving  across 
the  river.  First  came  the  cavalry,  then  the  2d  corps,  followed 
by  artillery.  As  soon  as  the  cavalry  crossed  they  gave  the  Rebel 
pickets  a  lively  chase  and  succeeded  in  capturing  most  of  them. 
The  boys  could  see  the  Rebels  running  in  every  direction  with 
the  cavalry  in  hot  pursuit.  In  an  old  house  was  found  the  sol 
dier  who  deserted  from  the  46th  Pennsylvania  a  few  days  before. 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER     XII. 

MARCH  FROM  KELLY'S  FORD  TO  RACCOON  FORD— A  DESERTER  SHOT- 
MARCH  TO  BRANDY  STATION— REGIMENT  TRANSFERRED  TO  THE  DE 
PARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND— A  WEEK'S  RIDE  ON  THE  CARS— AR 
RIVAL  AT  BRIDGEPORT,  ALABAMA. 

EITEMBER  i6th  the  Regiment  broke  camp  at  Kelly's  Ford 
and  at  daybreak  were  on  the  march,  and  after  a  severe 
tramj)  reached  Stevensburgh  about  i  o'clock  next  morning, 
where  they  bivouacked.  They  were  on  the  road  again  by  day 
light,  and  after  several  hours  weary  marching  reached  Raccoon 
Ford  and  filed  into  the  woods  for  a  rest.  After  marching  and 
countermarching  all  day,  they  finally  went  into  camp  in  a  rain 
storm.  September  i8th  the  shooting  of  a  deserter  from  the  3d 
Maryland  Regiment  took  place.  The  young  man  to  all  appear 
ance  was  not  over  twenty-two  years  of  age,  slightly  built,  with 
fair  face  and  black  eyes — probably  the  idol  of  his  doting  mother 
at  home.  The  troops  were  drawn  up  in  hollow  square,  and  the 
same  manceuvering  was  gone  through  with  as  on  a  similar  occa 
sion  which  we  have  mentioned.  Marching  up  to  the  open 
grave  he  turned  and  cast  one  long,  lingering  look  at  the  troops 
surrounding  him,  at  the  beautiful  hills  away  off  across  the  Rap- 
idan.  as  if  fully  realizing  it  was  the  last  time  he  should  look 


64  REMINISCENCES    OF 

upon  things  earthly,  and  was  then  blindfolded  and  seated  upon 
his  coffin.  The  following  lines  vividly  illustrate  the  scene  on  the 
-Rapidan  that  beautiful  September  morning: 

'  Twas  morning, — On  a  tented  field,  and  through  the  heated  haze, 
Flashed  back,  from  lines  of  burnished  arms,  the  sun's  effulgent  blaze: 
While,  from  a  sombre  prison-house,  seen  slowly  to  emerge, 
A  sad  procession  o'er  the  sward,  moved  to  a  muffled  dirge. 

And  in  the  midst,  with  ialtering  step,  and  pale  and  anxious  face, 

In  manacles,  between  two  guards,  a  soldier  had  his  place. 

A  youth — led  out  to  die; — and  yet  it  w.is  not  death,  btit  shame, 

That  smote  his  gallant  heart  with  dread,  and  shook  his  manly  frame  ! 

Htill  on,  before  the  marshalled  ranks,  tbe  train  pursued  its  way, 
Up  to  the  designated  spot,  whereon  a  coffin  lay — 
His  coffin  !     And,  with  reeling  brain,  despairing,  desolate — 
He  took  his  station  by  its  side,  abandoned  to  his  late, 

Theu  came  across  his  wavering  sight  strange  pictures  in  the  air  : 
He  saw  his  distant  mountain  home;  he  saw  his  parents  there; 
He  saw  them  bowed  With  hopeless  grief,  through  fast  declining  years: 
He  saw  a  nameless  grave;  and  then,  the  vision  closed — io  tears  ! 

Yet  once  again.     In  double  file,  advancing,  then,  he  saw 

Twelve  comrades,  sternly    set  apart  to  execute  the  law — 

But  saw  no  more; — his  senses  swam— deep  darkness  settled  round — 

And,  shuddering,  he  awaited  now  the  i'atal  volley's  sound  ! 

A  sharp,  quick  report,  and  all  was  over  with  this  poor  soldier. 
The  soldiers  marched  around  to  view  the  corpse,  and  then  to 
their  quarters. 

There  was  occasional  skirmishing  by  the  pickets,  the  Union 
line  being  on  one  and  the  Rebels  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
Rapidan.  It  was  a  wild  and  rocky  country  around  Raccoon 
Ford,  and  the  boys  were  momentarily  expecting  the  enemy  to 
shell  the  camp  from  some  of  the  high  hills  on  the  opposite  side, 
they  of  course  not  knowing  the  force  of  the  enemy  in  their  im 
mediate  front. 

The  23d  eight  days'  rations  were  issued  to  each  man.  This 
to  them  meant  business,  and  they  made  themselves  ready  to 


THE     1231)    REGIMENT.  ft  5 

receive  marching  orders,  which  they  did  the  next  morning  early. 
Moving  out  of  their  camp  they  marched  back  to  Stevensburgh, 
and  pushed  on  towards  Brandy  Station,  which  they  reached  late 
in  the  afternoon,  and  went  into  camp.  The  next  day,  the  25th, 
another  deserter  was  shot,  or  murdered  rather.  He  was  caused 
to  be  seated  on  his  coffin  and  just  as  the  word  was  to  be  given  to 
lire  he  raised  up.  He  was  again  seated,  and  again  rose  from  his 
coffin  as  the  squad  fired.  He  received  several  wounds  in  the 
head,  body  and  arm.  These  wounds  did  not  kill  him,  but  he 
died  soon  after.  Rumor  was  afloat  that  on  the  morrow  the  Reg 
iment  was  to  start  on  some  new  expedition,  and  speculation  was 
rife  as  to  what  the  move  would  be.  During  the  night  of  the 
25th  cars  were  moving  into  the  station,  and  the  boys  anxiously 
awaited  the  dawning  of  another  day, 

With  the  first  pencillings  of  the  morning  light  of  the  26th  of 
September,  unticketed,  the  Regiment  took  the  cars,  and  it  was 
then  rumored  that  they  were  to  be  transferred  from  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  to  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland.  They 
reached  Alexandria  in  the  afternoon,  and  Washington  about 
dark,  and  at  9  o'clock  took  supper  at  the  Soldiers'  Home.  After 
supper  the}'  took  the  cars  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  road. 
The  2/th  they  passed  the  Relay  House,  Harper's  Fern',  and 
Martinsburgh,  and  Cumberland  about  dark.  The  28th  they 
crossed  the  Monongahela  river,  and  the  Ohio  river  about  four 
miles  below  \Vheeling,  Va.  The  3Oth  they  reached  Columbus, 
Ohio,  where  bread  and  cofifee  was  issued  them.  At  Indianapo 
lis  they  took  dinner  at  the  Soldiers'  Home,  and  again  boarded 
the  train  and  reached  Jeffersonville  in  the  night.  From  this 
place  they  crossed  the  Ohio  river  to  Louisville,  Ky. ,  on  a  ferry 
boat,  and  marched  through  the  streets  of  Louisville  to  the  depot 
just  before  daylight.  At  the  depot  they  found  a  Soldier'  Home, 
and  what  was  still  better  they  found  a  breakfast  of  coffee,  bread 


66  REMINISCENCES    OF 

and  pork  awaiting  them.  After  breakfast  they  took  the  cars  and 
were  soon  ploughing  through  the  State  of  Kentucky  in  a  heavy 
rain  storm.  They  passed  through  Nashville,  Term.,  on  the  ist 
of  October,  and  Murfreesboro  the  2d.  The  morning  of  the  31! 
the  train  stopped  at  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  on  the  Tennessee  river, 
where  they  got  off  the  train,  marched  over  a  hill  and  camped  in 
a  valley. 

Thus  for  a  whole  week  they  were  crowded,  jammed,  jounced, 
and  jerked  in  uncomfortable  box  cars  through  the  labyrinth  of 
Western  Virginia,  across  the  rolling  and  fertile  acres  of  "Old 
Buckeye, "  through  the  thrifty  and  enterprising  towns  of  Indiana, 
across  the  plantations  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  to  the  milita 
ry  centre  of  the  West.  A  long  journey — in  many  respects  a 
pleasant,  and  in  many  others  an  unpleasant  one.  Fifty  men 
shut  up  in  a  close  car,  pushed  on  by  night  and  day, — too  much 
crowded  too  sleep  by  night,  and  too  much  occupied  with  the 
scenery  to  sleep  by  day,  were  in  no  very  favorable  condition  to 
criticise  either  the  country  or  the  people  living  in  it.  Still  they 
all  saw  much  in  both  to  admire  and  to  respect.  Leaving  the 
deserted  plains  on  the  Rapidan  any  territory  where  people  lived 
appeared  delightful;  much  more  so  the  romantic  mountains 
bordering  on  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  Wild  and  rugged  as  our 
own  Adirondacks,  they  compel  the  railroad  to  wind  in  arcs  and 
curves,  climb  steep  grades  and  pierce  high  mountains,  until  one 
loses  all  idea  of  direction  or  distance.  They  passed  through 
nine  tunnels  in  a  single  half  day,  the  longest  of  which  was  more 
than  a  mile  and  three-quarters  in  length,  just  beyond  Grafton, 
(where  McClellan  obtained  praise  for  a  battle  planned  and 
fought  by  another)  a  steep  grade  of  seventeen  miles  placed  them 
on  the  summit  of  the  mountains.  For  the  next  six  hours  they 
descended  at  a  rapid  rate  into  a  valley  beautiful  and  fertile. 
Scores  of  little  villas,  burghs  and  boroughs  lined  the  railroad,  in 


T  HE     I23D    R  K  G 1 M  E  X  T.  <S  7 

all  of  which  the  spirit  of  loyalty  was  made  manifest  by  the  waving 
of  Hags  and  handkerchiefs,  and  the  encouraging  smiles  of  sym 
pathy  and  hope. 

If  there  was  one  loyal  state  in  the  whole  Union  it  was  Western 
Virginia.  As  beautiful  flowers  are  often  found  springing  from 
the  trunks  of  fallen  and  decayed  trees,  so  this  new  state,  full  of 
energy,  of  industry,  of  pure  Republican  heart,  had  grown  out 
upon  the  decaying  body  politic  of  a  proud  and  false  aristocracy. 

The}'  crossed  the  Ohio  river  at  Bellair,  four  miles  from  Wheel 
ing.  Here  for  the  first  time  the  spirit  of  disloyalty  was  man 
ifested  in  the  sullen  looks  and  short  answers  the  boys  received 
while  passing  through  the  town.  There  were  a  few  Union  men 
and  women,  and  they  took  great  pains  to  manifest  their  sympa 
thies,  but  the  majority  were  traitorous.  All  through  the  state  the 
same  element  was  discernable,  especially  around  Columbus. 

At  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  the  state  fair  was  being  held.  The 
streets  were  crowded  with  the  people  living  near,  but  as  the  Gov 
ernment  had  monopolized  the  railroad  for  the  transportation  of 
soldiers,  few  visitors  from  abroad  were  present.  Their  route 
from  Indianapolis  was  southward  to  Louisville,  and  as  they 
marched  through  the  streets  they  saw  but  little  of  the  city,  but 
concluded  that  the  same  French  element  that  gave  it  a  name 
gave  style  to  its  architecture.  At  Nashville  was  found  sterling 
loyalty.  Here  was  found  a  band  of  refugees  who  had  fled  from 
Alabama.  It  was  a  pitiful  sight.  The  old  man  who  had  loved 
and  labored  for  his  country  till  his  hairs  were  gray  with  age,  driven 
from  his  home,  deprived  of  even  a  bed  to  die  on.  His  old  wife, 
exhausted  by  the  journey,  lay  sick  upon  the  floor  of  the  depot 
beside  him.  Several  children  stood  around,  pitifully  crying  in 
the  misery  they  could  not  understand,  And  what  was  the  cause 
of  such  punishment  ?  What  crime  had  they  committed  ?  This, 
and  only  this.  They  could  not  tear  out  of  their  hearts  the  love 
of  the  old  Union. 


68  REMINISCENCES     OF 

From  Nashville  to  Bridgeport  occupied  a  trifle  over  twenty- 
four  hours.  At  Murfreesboro  the  boys  for  the  first  time  saw 
colored  soldiers,  a  line  being  drawn  up  to  salute  the  train  as  it 
passed.  They  were  natives  of  Tennessee. 

Bridgeport,  Alabama,  was  the  terminus  of  the  railroad  which 
connected  Rosecrans  with  Louisville,  his  base  of  supplies.  Be 
fore  this  the  road  ran  through  to  Chattanooga,  but  was  destroyed 
by  the  Union  troops.  The  rebels  had  so  fortified  a  chain  of 
hills  near  Chattanooga  that  all  the  supplies  to  the  army  had  to 
be  transported  by  wagons  sixty  miles  over  a  very  bad  road.  Rose 
crans  was  in  a  very  hazardous  position.  All  his  supplies  had  to  be 
transported  250  miles  through  states  where  guerillas  were  liable 
to  cut  the  road  at  any  moment.  Such  was  the  situation  when 
the  1 23d  Regiment  reached  Bridgeport.  At  every  station  on  the 
road  crowds  of  people  gathered,  and  some  of  the  boys  conceived 
the  novel  idea  of  writing  their  address  on  a  card  or  piece  of  pa 
per,  attaching  the  same  to  a  stick  and  throwing  it  to  some  young 
lady  whom  they  fancied  at  the  stations.  By  this  means  many  a 
correspondence  was  formed  which  helped  while  away  the  tedious 
hours  of  camp  life. 


THE     I23D    REGIMENT. 


69 


CHAPTER    XI II. 

FROM  BRIDGEPORT  TO  DECHERD— FROM  DECHEKD  TO  GARRISON  BRIDGE 
AND  WARTRACE— IN  PURSUIT  OF  GUERILL  \S  TO  SHELBYVILLE— BACK 
TO  BELLBUCKLE  AND  WARTRACE— OVER  CUMBERLAND  MOUNTAINS  TO 
TANTALLON— THE  BOYS  MEET  GEN.  ROSECRANS— TO  BRIDGEPORT  BY 
RAILROAD— ANECDOTES,  ETC. 

TT^HK  boys  were  heartily  glad  to  pitch  tents,  and  expected 
that  they  had  reached  their  destination  and  would  be  al 
lowed  to  rest  after  their  wearisome  journey  of  seven  days  and 
seven  nights  in  box  cars;  but  Sunday  morning,  October  4th,  the 
old  order  was  heard,  to  "strike  tents."  Marching  to  the  railroad 
track  the}-  found  the  46th  Pennsylvania  getting  aboard  the  train. 
The  train  moved  off,  and  they  were  ordered  back  to  their  camp 
and  there  remained  over  night.  The  next  clay  they  were  again 
marched  to  the  train  and  this  time  were  more  fortunate,  embark 
ing  about  3  P.  M.  ,  and  after  riding  in  open  cars  all  night,  passing 
Stevenson,  which  is  on  the  Alabama  and  Tennessee  line,  arrived 
at  Decherd  Tenn.,  at  6  o'clock  Tuesday  morning.  The  boys 
had  scarcely  finished  breakfast  when  orders  came  to  fall  in,  and 
load  into  and  on  the  cars  to  go  to  Garrison  Bridge,  near  Wart- 
race,  where  the  Rebels  had  appeared,  and  were  preparing  to 
burn  the  bridge.  After  a  ride  of  some  eight  hours  they  reached 
the  railroad  bridge  and  found  it  burning,  having  been  previously 


70  REMINISCENCES     OF 

sawed  and  chopped  until  it  was  worthless.  A  strong  stockade 
commanding  the  bridge  was  also  in  flames  and  nearly  con 
sumed  :  but  the  Regiment  was  too  late,  the  incendiaries  had 
fled,  after  rifling  the  stores  and  residences  at  Wartrace  of  every 
thing  they  could  find.  This  band  who  burned  the  bridge  con 
sisted  of  but  thirty-five  men,  while  a  regiment  of  soldiers  was 
in  sight,  who  never  fired  a  gun.  This  was  not  the  fault  of  the 
soldiers,  however,  for  they  begged  and  plead  to  go  to  the  defence 
of  the  work,  but  to  the  ignorance  of  a  Lieutenent-Colonel  in 
command.  Finding  that  they  could  do  no  good,  the  i23d 
camped  on  the  bank  of  the  stream  until  morning.  At  daybreak 
they  marched  about  a  mile  to  Wartrace.  At  n  o'clock,  A.  M., 
they  received  news  that  a  band  of  Rebel  cavalry  were  in  the  di 
rection  of  Shelbyville,  ten  miles  distant.  At  once  they  with  oth 
er  regiments  fell  in  and  pushed  off  in  the  direction  of  the  town 
as  fast  as  they  could  march. 

They  did  not  encounter  the  enemy,  however,  bur  by  holding 
three  roads  drove  them  into  the  hands  of  Wilder's  mounted  in 
fantry,  who  up  to  that  afternoon  had  taken  328  prisoners  and  4 
pieces  of  artillery,  after  killing  120.  Just  at  dark  the  boys  start 
ed  on  their  march  back,  taking  a  different  road.  From  Shelby 
ville  back  to  Wartrace  was  the  severest  march  they  had  seen. 
Over  an  unfinished  Macadamized  road,  full  of  large  stones  and 
uncovered  drains,  in  the  darkness  they  stumbled  and  hurried  on, 
only  taking  one  rest  in  thirteen  miles.  When  they  reached  camp 
near  Bellbuckle  they  were  totally  used  up.  Two- thirds  of  the 
Regiment  had  fallen  out,  and  had  thrown  themselves  down  by 
the  side  of  the  road. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  8th  the  Regiment  pushed  into 
Belibuckle,  and  remained  there  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  and 
then  marched  to  Wartrace,  reaching  there  in  the  night,  wrapped 
their  blankets  around  them  and  la}-  down  upon  the  ground  for  a 
night's  rest.  The  yth  they  marched  to  Garrison's  Bridge,  and 


THE     1230    REGIMENT.  71 

after  remaining  there  an  hour  or  two  marched  back  to  Wartrace. 
The  boys  made  every  arrangement  for  a  night's  camp,  which  ar 
rangement  consisted  in  putting  up  their  pieces  of  shelter  tent, 
and  wrapping  themselves  in  their  woolen  blankets;  but  long  af 
ter  the  shades  of  night  had  settled  over  their  bivouac,  the  still 
ness  of  the  night  was  broken  bv  the  order  to  "fall  in."  But  few 
moments'  time  was  given  to  discuss  the  matter,  when  they  were 
marched  to  the  railroad,  got  aboard  of  some  old  freight  cars  and 
started  for  Decherd,  which  place  they  reached  on  the  morning  of 
the  loth.  Alighting  from  the  cars  the  boys  cooked  their  coffee 
and  were  happy.  During  the  day  they  received  a  mail,  the  first 
since  they  left  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Letters  from  home 
arid  loved  ones  were  read  man}'  times  over  that  day  at  Decherd. 
The  Regiment  lay  around  the  railroad  track  all  day,  and  just  be 
fore  dirk  marched  a  few  rods  and  put  up  their  shelter  tent's  for 
the  night.  The  Regiment  remained  at  Decherd  nine  days.  A 
camp  ground  was  cleared  up  and  good  quarters  built  during  this 
time,  with  fire  places.  Out  of  old  boards  they  constructed  stools, 
tables,  etc.  Quite  a  number  of  the  boys  had  either  a  kitten  or  a 
dog,  and  everything  was  in  good  shape.  The  weather  was  quite 
rainy;  in  fact  it  rained  three  days,  steady,  and  then  again  they 
were  rather  short  of  provisions,  but  after  awhile  drew  full  rations. 

The  i yth,  three  companies  from  the  Regiment  were  detailed 
to  guard  the  nth  Corps  train  over  the  Cumberland  mountains 
and  to  Tantallon.  Everything  went  well  until  they  commenced 
ascending  the  mountains,  and  then  such  a  time  as  the  teamsters 
had  with  their  six  mule  teams.  Several  wagons  were  broken  and 
abandoned.  The  road  in  some  places  was  so  steep  and  rough 
that  it  required  the  exertions  of  a  six  mule  team  and  all  the 
soldiers  that  could  work  around  a  wagon,  to  get  it  over.— 
Night  came  on  them  in  the  mountains,  and  the  boys  crawled  un 
der  wagons  and  stowed  themselves  away  as  best  they  could.  It 


/2  RKMIXISCKNCLCS    Or 

rained  hard  during  the  night,  which  made  the  marching  down 
the  mountain  very  unpleasant.  The  three  companies  arrived  at 
Tantallon  about  the  middle  of  the  forenoon  of  the  2oth,  tired, 
wet  and  hungry.  They  were  fortunate  enough  to  get  shelter  un 
der  an  old  shed,  built  little  fires  to  make  their  coffee  by  and  to 
dry  themselves.  Here  they  remained  all  day  and  night,  and 
about  dark  on  the  2  ist  got  aboard  of  some  old  cars.  While  wait 
ing  for  the  train  to  start,  a  train  came  in  on  board  of  which 
was  Gen.  Rosecrans.  As  soon  as  the  boys  learned  that  he  was 
on  the  train  they  sent  up  cheer  after  cheer,  which  brought  the 
general  to  the  car  door.  He  made  a  few  remarks,  saying  that 
their  arrival  was  opportune;  that  he  had  entered  the  shell  of  se 
cession,  and  all  that  was  left  for  them  to  do  was  to  go  clean  to 
the  ashes, — to  the  very  heart  of  secession.  The  boys  yelled, 
"We'll  do  it,  general!"  With  a  "God  bless  you,"  he  entered  the 
car  and  the  train  moved  on.  Soon  after  this  their  train  moved, 
and  they  arrived  at  Andison  about  3  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  22cl.  Wrapping  their  blankets  round  them  they  lay  down 
and  slept  until  daylight.  It  rained  nearly  all  day  of  the  22d, 
and  the  boys  sought  shelter  in  an  old  tannery  and  other  places, 
built  fires  and  dried  their  clothing.  Here  they  drew  seven  days 
rations  of  everything  in  the  provision  line.  Just  at  night,  as 
they  were  preparing  a  place  to  sleep,  orders  came  to  "fall  in. " 
They  marched  down  to  the  railroad  in  the  rain,  and  got  aboard 
of  some  old  rickety  cattle  cars  that  had  been  nearly  knocked  to 
pieces  in  some  railroad  collision.  After  having  been  aboard 
about  an  hour,  the  engineer  of  the  train  gave  notice  that 
he  could  not  carry  them.  Out  into  the  pelting  storm  they  went. 
How  the  boys  did  swear  !  Soon  after,  the  express  train  came 
along,  and  Col.  Rogers  ordered  Cos.  C  and  F  to  get  aboard, 
which  they  did  with  all  haste.  They  rode  as  for  as  Stevenson  and 
then  changed  cars,  getting  into  old  freight  cars,  and  arrived  at 
Bridgeport  about  three  o'clock  next  morning,  and  marched  over 


THE     I  230    REGIMENT.  73 

the  hill  to  the  old  grounds  occupied  by  them  when  the}-  first  ar 
rived  at  Bridgeport.  The  other  companies  came  in  next  day, 
having  marched  from  Decherd. 

In  a  day  or  two  six  companies  took  possession  of  a  fort  over 
looking  the  Tennessee  river,  and  the  other  four  under  Maj.  Tan 
ner  marched  across  the  river  on  the  pontoon  bridge  and  camped 
on  an  island. 

There  was  a  squad  of  Rebel  prisoners  constantly  on  hand, 
generally  deserters  from  Bragg's  army.  They  came  in  daily,  rag 
ged,  dirty  and  miserable.  The  citizens,  what  few  there  were 
around  the  country,  were  utterly  destitute,  having  been  stripped 
of  everything  but  land  and  houses  by  the  Rebels.  They  drew 
rations  from  the  Government,  and  many  of  the  men  had  to  work 
for  Uncle  Sam  by  the  side,  perhaps,  of  their  former  slave.  It 
was  a  bitter  piii  for  them,  but  they  had  to  take  it.  The  women 
nearly  all  chewed  and  smoked  tobacco,  dipped  snuff  and  swore 
at  the  Yankees,  and  their  personal  appearance  was  not  at  all  en 
hanced  by  the  Southern  dress  of  homespun  cloth.  Every  car 
penter  in  the  Regiment  was  detailed  to  work  on  the  flatboats 
which  were  being  built  to  place  on  the  river.  A  large  depot  was 
built  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  which  was  piled  full  of  hard  tack 
and  other  army  rations.  It  was  the  duty  of  the  boys  to  guard 
the  rations  at  the  landing  and  at  the  depot,  do  patrol  and  guard 
duty,  etc.  About  the  middle  of  November  the  four  companies 
on  the  island  came  back  and  joined  the  Regiment. 

Considerable  liquor  passed  through  Bridgeport  to  the  front, 
and  we  venture  to  say  that  no  straggling  soldier  succeeded  in 
stealing  any  of  it  while  it  lay  under  the  watchful  care  of  some 
of  the  boys  of  the  12 3d.  Sometimes  there  would  be  two  or 
three  barrels  and  small  casks  on  the  platform  awaiting  transpor 
tation.  One  night  a  soldier  from  Co.  C,  who  had  been  imbib 
ing  too  freely  of  "cider," — the  Murphy  movement  was  not 


74  REMINISCENCES    OF 

known  to  them  at  that  time — -was  seen,  endeavoring  to  roll  a 
barrel  up  the  steep  hill  to  camp.  He  pushed  the  barrel  along 
when  his  feet  slipped  and  he  fell,  the  barrel  rolling  down  on  him. 
He  would  then  brace  his  shoulder  against  the  barrel,  dig  his 
heels  into  the  ground  and  push.  He  could  hold  it,  but  made 
no  progress  toward  camp.  Then  he  would  talk  to  it,  "Why 
don't  yer  act-like-a-man,  and  not  crowd  a  feller?"  Then  he 
would  brace  himself  and  succeed  in  rolling  it  up  the  hill  a  few 
steps,  when  down  he  would  go,  the  barrel  rolling  on  him.  Once 
his  hands  slipped  off  from  the  barrel  and  he  fell  across  it,  at  the 
same  time  his  feet  flew  from  under  him,  and  he  and  the  barrel 
rolled  some  distance  down  the  hill,  but  he  landing  ahead  of  the 
barrel  of  liquor,  it  came  on  him  with  such  force  that  he  yelled, 
' '  Take  him  off,  take  him  off. "  A  party  of  soldiers  near  by  nearly 
killed  themselves  with  laughing  over  the  freaks  of  George  Hen 
ry  in  trying  to  roll  his  barrel  up  hill.  The  Sergeant  of  the 
guard,  discerning  the  dilemma  in  which  he  was  placed,  relieved 
him  of  his  labor  of  love,  and  put  him  in  the  guard  house  over 
night. 

Another  laughable  incident  occurred  at  the  steamboat  landing. 
Late  one  afternoon  a  barrel  was  unloaded,  and  accompanying  it 
was  a  lofty  appearing  man,  one  of  those  kind  of  men  who  con 
sider  themselves  all-important.  The  barrel  was  rolled  on  the 
platform,  the  stranger  ordering  it  to  be  rolled'  to  a  certain  place. 
The  guard,  who  was  leisurely  walking  his  beat,  inquired  of  the 
stranger  if  he  desired  to  have  the  barrel  guarded.  He  replied, 
"No,  sir;  that  barrel  contains  liquor,  and  I  shall  guard  it  mysdf. 
I  have  heard  that  the  soldiers  at  Bridgeport  considered  them 
selves  very  smart,  but  THAT  barrel  I  am  gonig  to  take  to  Chatta 
nooga  with  me  in  the  morning."  "Very  well,"  said  the  guard, 
"I  dare  say  you  will."  Some  time  after  dark  the  stranger  un 
rolled  his  blanket,  and  wrapping  it  about  him  seated  himself  on 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  75 

the  barrel  and  went  to  sleep,  leaning  against  a  post.  The  whistle 
of  the  early  steamer  coming  up  the  river  awoke  him,  and  he  got 
off  the  barrel  with  the  air  of  one  having  gained  a  great  victory. 
As  soon  as  the  boat  touched  the  dock  he  called  to  some  of  the 
deck  hands  to  come  for  his  barrel,  at  the  same  time  laying  aside 
his  blanket  and  taking  hold  of  the  barrel  gave  it  a  vigorous  push, 
as  any  one  would  a  heavy  barrel,  for  the  purpose  of  pushing  it 
over  to  roll  along  the  platform,  when  the  barrel  yielded  too 
readily  to  his  strong  hands  and  he  fell  over,  while  the  barrel 
rolled  off  along  the  platform — an  empty  barrel.  If  one  could 
picture  the  amazement  depicted  on  that  man's  countenance,  it 
would  make  a  picture  most  enjoyable  to  look  upon.  He  arose 
from  the  platform,  approached  the  barrel,  and  there  discovered 
in  one  end  a  hole  bored  by  an  inch  auger,  and  a  correspond 
ing  hole  up  through  the  platform  on  which  the  barrel  had 
rested.  The  look  of  pain,  of  wounded  dignity,  of  extreme 
astonishment,  of  mingled  horror,  anger  and  humiliation  that 
rested  on  the  face  of  that  man  when  he  discovered  the  hole  in 
the  barrel,  can  never  be  forgotten.  He  made  no  inquiries,  for 
he  knew  it  would  be  useless,  but  went  directly  on  board  the  boat 
amid  the  laughing  and  jeering  of  the  soldiers. 

It  seems  that  during  the  night  some  of  the  boys,  on  learning 
from  the  guard  the  contents  of  the  barrel,  and  the  shabby  man 
ner  in  which  he  had  been  treated,  resolved  to  show  hint  a  "trick 
with  a  hole  in  it;"  so,  getting  under  the  platform  with  an  auger, 
of  which  they  had  a  variety,  they  bored  up  through  the  planks  of 
the  platform  and  the  barrel,  and  saving  what  they  wanted  in 
pails,  let  the  balance  run  out  on  the  ground. 


REMINISCENCES    OF 


CHAPTER    XIV.. 

AT  BRIDGEPORT— NICAJACK  CAVE— A  TRIP  TO  HUNTSVILLE— REMOVAL  TO 
ELK  RIVER-NATHAN  LAMPHEUE  SHOT  BY  A  GUERILLA— SCOUT  INTO 
LINCOLN  COUNTY. 

IT  was  evident  from  the  number  of  old  broken  muskets  and 
broken  shells,  and  shells  that  had  not  been  exploded,  lying 
around  loose,  that  at  some  time  the  Rebels  had  either  blown  up 
a  magazine  or  one  had  exploded  by  accident.  In  an  old  ditch 
surrounding  the  fort  was  swept  and  carried  the  dirt  of  the  cam}) 
ground  after  every  "policing,"  and  then  set  on  fire.  On  one 
occasion  a  loud  explosion  was  heard,  and  the  dirt  and  stones 
were  thrown  in  every  direction.  No  one  was  hurt,  however. 
Several  explosions  occurred  from  these  old  shells,  but  no  acci 
dents  resulted  therefrom. 

The  sutlers  and  bakers  formed  most  of  the  population  of 
Bridgeport  aside  from  the  soldiers,  and  how  they  did  rob  the 
boys  !  But  the  soldiers  cared  little  for  money.  If  they  saw  any 
thing  they  wanted,  and  had  money  enough,  no  matter  what  the 
cost,  they  would  have  it. 

The  ist  Division  was  ordered  front  to  engage  in  the  fight  at 
Lookout  Mountain,  but,  as  it  was  understood  among  the  boys, 
Gen.  Geary  of  the  2cl  Division  wanted  to  go,  and  so  Gen.  Wil- 


TH1-:    123!)    REGIMENT.  77 

Hams  gave  way,  and  the  boys  were  thus  saved  one  hardship.  Af 
ter  the  battle  of  Lookout  Mountain  large  numbers  of  prisoners 
were  brought  through  Bridgeport  on  their  way  to  Nashville.  The 
Rebels  had  no  sort  of  uniform,  but  were  dressed  in  all  manner 
of  suits,  the  butternut  color  predominating,  and  for  hats — no  two 
had  hats  or  caps  alike.  One  gritty  young  Rebel  took  from  his  vest 
pocket  a  small  piece  of  his  skull,  and  taking  off  his  hat,  showed 
the  place  on  his  head  where  it  came  from,  and  said:  "See  thar, 
what  you'ns  done.  It  was  a  right  smart  fight  where  I  lost  that, 
I  reckon,  but  I'll  be  dog  gone  if  you'ns  have  whipped  we'ns  yet." 

Very  often  the  boys  would  take  a  stroll  around  the  country  for 
the  purpose  of  getting  a  meal  and  visiting  with  the  ladies.  These 
families  were  of  the  class  known  as  the  "poor  whites,"  and  were 
as  ignorant  as  they  were  poor.  Some  of  them  actually  believed 
that  the  Yankees  had  great  horns  on  their  heads,  and  one  young 
lady  in  particular  said  she  "was  not  afraid  of  the  Yankees  after 
seeing  they  had  no  horns. " 

Quite  a  number  of  the  boys  visited  Nicajack  cave  at  Shell- 
mound,  about  fourteen  miles  distant  from  Bridgeport.  Shell- 
mound  is  a  railroad  station,  and  is  on  the  Tennessee  river.  It 
derives  its  name  from  the  large  mounds  of  mussel  shells  which 
are  found  in  the  vicinity,  doubtless  the  work  of  the  aborigines  of 
the  country.  One  of  these  large  mounds  of  shells  was  found  on 
the  banks  of  the  Tennessee  river  at  Bridgeport,  and  in  removing 
the  shells  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  road,  numerous  human 
bones,  arrow  heads,  and  trinkets  of  various  kinds  were  found. 
Some  of  the  boys  in  digging  for  relics  came  across  the  skeleton 
of  a  brave.  For  about  one  foot  all  around  the  skeleton  the  shells 
were  clean  and  dry,  while  above  that  it  was  shells  and  dirt  to_ 
gether.  This  mound  and  the  ones  at  Shellmound  were  un 
doubtedly  Indian  burial  grounds.  The  cave  at  Shellmound  is 
said  to  be  five  miles  long.  The  entrance  is  100  feet  wide,  and 


7  REMINISCENCES    OF 

from  30  to  40  feet  high.  On  the  left  is  a  high  gallery;  on  the 
right,  about  20  feet  lower,  runs  a  crystal  stream  in  which  was  a 
boat;  those  who  wanted  to  explore  the  cavern  could  paddle  up 
the  subterranean  river.  Before  the  war  and  for  some  time  after, 
large  quantities  of  saltpetre  were  obtained  from  this  cave,  and  a 
few  rods  from  the  mouth  of  the  cave  stood  a  mill  which  had 
been  run  by  the  cave  stream. 

December  28th  a  Sergeant  from  Co.  C,  with  a  detail  of  men, 
was  sent  to  Huntsville,  Alabama,  with  about  twenty-five  deserters 
and  convalescents.  The  distance  was  about  twenty-five  miles 
from  Bridgeport.  The  cars  were  run  only  as  far  as  Flint  river, 
the  bridge  across  the  river  having  been  burned  by  the  Rebels. 
The  Sergeant  with  his  men  crossed  the  river  in  an  old  scow  boat, 
and  the  distance  from  there  to  Huntsville  was  ten  miles,  and 
through  a  country  infested  by  guerillas.  Reporting  to  the  Pro 
vost  Marshal  at  Huntsville.  to  the  chagrin  of  the  Sergeant  he 
would  not  receive  his  prisoners,  but  ordered  him  back  to  Bridge 
port  with  them.  He  gave  them  quarters  for  the  night,  however, 
in  an  old  slave  pen,  and  having  no  wood,  they  tore  down  a  par 
tition  and  chopped  it  up,  and  made  good  fires.  The  next  mor 
ning  was  New  Year's,  and  bitter  cold  it  was,  too.  The  Provost 
Marshal  sent  an  orderly  three  times  to  order  them  to  start,  with 
the  consoling  announcement  that  the  guerillas  were  around  in 
force,  and  it  was  not  safe  for  them  to  wait.  After  the  boys  had 
made  their  coffee  they  started,  and  reached  Flint  river  without 
having  been  attacked  by  the  guerillas,  although  several  were  seen 
on  the  knolls  flanking  the  road.  Crossing  the  river  they  halted 
near  a  house,  killed  a  pig,  and  kept  warm  during  the  day  and 
night  by  burning  up  the  man's  picket  fence.  The  train  came 
in  next  morning,  and  in  the  afternoon  returned.  To  keep 
warm,  the  boys  placed  large  flat  stones  on  the  floor  of  the  box 
car  and  built  a  fire,  and  thereby  avoided  freezing,  but  came  near 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  79 

being  smoked  to  death.       In  due  Lime    the    Sergeant    reached 
Bridgeport  without  having  lost  a  man. 

The  town  of  Huntsville  was  named  after  a  man  by  the  name 
of  Hunt,  who  was  a  large  land  owner.  Before  the  war  it  was  the 
Saratoga  of  the  South,  having  been  a  resort  for  all  the  "F.  Fs. " 
It  was  a  great  country  for  cotton;  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach 
were  to  be  seen  great  fields  of  cotton.  One  singular  feature  of 
the  place  was  the  water.  At  the  base  of  a  massive  bed  of  rocks 
gushed  out  with  great  force  a  stream  of  pure  water,  which  sup 
plied  the  entire  place  with  water,  and  also  run  two  or  three 
mills. 

On  the  6th  day  of  January,  1864,  the  Regiment  was  trans 
ferred  to  Klk  river,  midway  between  Nashville  and  Chatta 
nooga,  and  relieved  a  regiment  there  on  duty.  In  the  after 
noon  of  the  6th  they  marched  out  of  their  quarters  and  down  to 
the  railroad,  and  spent  the  balance  of  the  afternoon  and  evening 
in  getting  into  and  out  of  cars,  and  once  they  had  lain  down  in  the 
old  cars  preparatory  to  a  "snooze,  'when  the  order  came  to  "pile 
out.  Finally  the}'  were  loaded  and  proceeded  on  their  way, 
reaching  Klk  river  about  noon  of  the  /th,  and  marched  off  in  the 
woods,  where  they  soon  had  rousing  fires.  The  night  of  the  yth 
snow  fell  to  the  depth  of  one  inch,  but  by  noon  of  the  8th,  un 
der  the  warm  rays  of  the  sun,  it  had  entirely  disappeared.  Co. 
F  was  stationed  at  Estcll  Springs  water  tank,  and  patrolled  a  por 
tion  of  the  railroad,  Co.  F  in  a  stockade  to  guard  the  trestle 
bridge  over  Elk  river,  and  the  balance  of  the  Regiment  took  pos 
session  of  the  log  huts  vacated  by  the  other  regiment. 

The  quarters  were  good  board  shanties  roofed  with  canvas, 
fire  places  of  brick  and  out  door  ovens  of  the  same  material. 
The  climate  was  much  milder  than  that  of  Virginia;  in  fact  ma 
ny  days  during  January  were  like  the  weather  we  have  here  in 
May;  it  was  quite  changeable,  however,  and  sometimes  they 


8o  REMINISCENCES    OF 

were  sensibly  made  aware  of  the  fact  that  they  were  not  in  the 
"land  where  there  were  no  chilling  winds."  Elk  river  is  a  small 
stream,  not  so  large  as  the  Battenkill  at  Greenwich.  A  little  vil 
lage  called  Alisonia  stood  near  where  the  boys  were  camped,  but 
this  was  all  history  to  them,  for  not  a  single  house  remained 
standing  when  they  were  there. 

Estell  Springs  derived  its  name  from  mineral  springs  in  the 
vicinity.  The  springs  were  very  much  esteemed  for  their  me 
dicinal  qualities,  and  were  visited  by  many  invalids  in  times  of 
peace. 

The  country  around  Elk  river  had  suffered  much  from  the 
ravages  of  war;  a  kind  of  desolation  reigned  over  many  places 
that  were  once  the  homes  of  happy  families.  The  people,  what 
few  there  were  left,  had  a  good  many  phrases  that  were  common 
to  most  Southerners.  In  calling  to  a  person  at  a  distance,  it 
was  "Ho!  Jim,"  or  "Bob, "  as  the  case  might  be,  the  "Ho" 
emphasized  in  a  peculiar  style.  If  you  asked  one  a  question, 
the  answer  would  be  "I  reckon."  If  you  asked  if  there  were 
any  ducks  up  the  river  the  answer  would  be,  "thar's  a  right  smart 
of  game  up  than"  They  had  a  "heap"  of  people— "mighty" 
fine  men — knew  things  "plum"'  well — be  "dog  gonecl"  if  they 
didn't. 

[an.  1 2th,  Lieutenant-Col.  Rogers  with  a  detail  from  each 
company  went  out  on  a  reconnoissance  after  guerillas,  and  at 
night  Nathan  Lamphere,  who  was  one  of  the  pickets,  was  shot 
dead  by  a  guerilla,  who  crept  up  to  him,  and  witho  ut  any 
warning  whatever,  fired.  The  remains  were  sent  into  camp 
and  buried,  the  Lieutenant-Col,  searching  in  vain  for  the  assas 
sin.  His  gun  was  found,  which  in  his  flight  he  had  dropped, 
but  he  succeeded  in  making  good  his  escape.  We  believe  quite 
a  heavy  assessment  was  levied  on  the  citizens  around  Winchester 
Springs  where  the  shooting  took  place. 


THE     I23D    REGIMENT.  8 1 

January  16,  Lieut. -Col.  Rogers,  with  the  following  detail  was 
sent  North  to  recruit  for  the  Regiment:  C'apt.  Henry  O.  Wiley, 
Capt.  Duncan  Robertson,  Capt.  Alexander  Anderson,  Lieut.  R. 
Beattie,  Lieut.  David  Rogers,  Sergt.  John  Richards,  Sergt.  Daniel 
White,  Sergt.  Clark  Darrow,  Sergt.  Chas.  Vaughn,  Sergt.  Wm. 
J.  McMillan,  Sergt.  Chas.  E.  Warner,  Sergt.  H.  C.  Morhous. 

Near  the  last  of  January  Cos.  A,  E,  G,  H  and  K,  under  com 
mand  of  Col.  McDougall,  were  sent  into  Lincoln  Co.,  Tenn. , 
on  a  foraging  expedition,  and  to  break  up  some  bands  of  guer 
illas  which  were  known  to  exist  in  that  vicinity.  They  went  to 
Boone  Hill,  and  quartered  in  a  brick  school  house,  and  were 
three  days  in  reaching  this  place,  having  skirmished  some  with 
guerillas.  Arriving  at  the  above  mentioned  place  they  arrested 
several,  one  a  Dr.  Smith,  who  were  supposed  to  belong  to  one 
of  the  gangs.  Several  wrere  taken  to  camp  and  forwarded  to 
Nashville  under  guard.  The  boys  had  good  foraging,  but  no 
soldier  was  allowed  to  commit  any  wanton  act.  A  lady  reported 
to  the  Colonel  her  jewelry  being  stolen  by  some  of  his  men,  and 
he  had  one  strung  up  by  the  thumbs  for  awhile,  as  punishment 
for  the  supposed  theft,  but  he  was  not  the  right  man.  They  re 
turned  to  camp  after  being  out  about  three  w-eeks,  all  feeling 
well  and  looking  hearty. 

About  this  time  the  nth  and  i2th  Corps  were  united  and 
called  the  2Oth  Corps,  under  command  of  Major-Gen.  Joe  Hook 
er,  or  "Fighting  Joe, "as  he  was  called  by  the  boys.  The  i23d 
was  now  in  the  ist  Brigade,  ist  Division,  2Oth  Corps,  Army  of 
the  Cumberland,  Major-General  G.  H.  Thomas,  commanding. 


82  REMINISCENCES    OF 


CHAPTER    XV. 

CO.E'S  SKIRMISH  WITH  FERGUSON'S  GUERILLAS— ORDERS  TO  MARCH— 
FROM  ELK  RIVER  OVER  THE  CUMBERLAND  MOUNTAINS  TO  RESACA 
—BATTLE  OF  RESACA— DESCRIPTION  OF  A  BATTLE— LIST  OF  CASUALTIES. 

ON  the  1 6th  of  March  Co.  E  had  a  sharp  skirmish  with 
Ferguson's  guerillas.  On  the  day  named,  Capt.  Geo. 
R.  Hall  had  sent  out  two  men  and  a  Corporal  to  patrol  the  road 
half  way  between  his  post  and  Tallahoma.  Ransom  Qua  and 
Chauncey  P.  Coy,  we  think,  were  two  of  them.  The  patrol  not 
returning  at  the  regular  time,  the  Captain  at  once  made  up  his 
mind  that  "something  was  up/'  He  accordingly  got  out  his 
company,  and  had  proceeded  up  the  track  about  one  mile  when 
he  came  in  sight  of  the  guerillas.  The  latter  had  run  a  train  off 
the  track  and  had  fired  three  cars  of  hay.  On  the  train  were 
several  soldiers,  three  of  them  from  the  Regiment.  When  Co. 
E  came  in  sight  the  guerillas  were  relieving  the  boys  of  their 
overcoats,  money,  watches,  etc.  Co.  E  charged  on  them,  driv 
ing  them  and  retaking  the  prisoners.  After  driving  them  for 
nearly  a  mile  the  Rebels  came  up  with  another  squad  of  their 
men  who  had  been  dispatched  for  some  purpose,  when  they 
turned  upon  Co.  E,  driving  them  for  some  distance.  Capt.  Hall 
rallied  his  men  and  once  more  drove  the  enemy.  This  time 


THE     I  23D    REGIMENT.  83 

they  did  not  come  back.      The  captain  pursued  them  for  some 
distance,  hut  he  found  it  useless  as  the  Rebels  were  mounted. 

Sergeant  G.  Stevenson  of  Co.  G,  had  about  $20  taken  from 
him,  besides  his  overcoat.  Private  W.  Arnold  of  the  same  com 
pany  also  had  some  money  taken  from  him.  Arnold  had  Lieut. 
Hill's  watch,  but  when  they  asked  him  if  he  owned  a  watch  he 
told  them  no  and  succeeded  in  concealing  it  from  them.  Private 
George  W.  Edie  of  Co.  H  had  his  watch  and  about  $5  taken. 
They  told  him  to  pull  off  his  overcoat,  but  Co.  E  coming  in 
sight  just  then  they  did  not  wait  to  get  it.  The  guerillas  shot 
one  negro  who  was  braking  on  the  train.  Co.  E  killed  two  ot 
the  guerillas,  but  none  of  the  boys  in  the  company  were  hurt. 

The  guerillas  numbered  120,  while  the  Captain  had  but  46 
men.  By  the  bravery  of  Capt.  Hall  and  his  little  band,  three 
engines  and  at  least  sixty  cars  loaded  with  supplies  for  the  army 
at  Chattanooga,  were  saved.  The}'  used  to  run  three  trains,  one 
right  after  the  other,  and  had  Co.  E  not  appeared  on  the  scene 
the  guerillas  would  not  only  have  destroyed  this  large  train,  but 
the  two  which  followed,  and  they  might  also  have  captured  Gen. 
Grant,  for  he  was  on  the  second  train.  Great  praise  was  due 
Capt.  Hall  for  his  promptness  and  judgment,  and  to  his  compa 
ny  for  the  brave  manner  in  which  they  conducted  themselves. 
But  we  suppose  no  soldiers  were  ever  more  pleased  to  see  their 
company  than  were  these  same  boys  who  had  been  taken  prison 
ers  by  the  guerillas,  and  who  were  being  robbed  of  all  they  had. 

After  this  skirmish  there  was  nothing  to  disturb  the  quiet  of 
camp  life.  The  usual  duty  of  picket,  camp  guard,  and  patrol 
ling  the  railroad  track  of  course  had  to  be  performed.  The  offi 
cers  and  men  formed  many  pleasant  friendships  with  the  citizens 
around  Elk  river. 

The  Regiment  received  orders  to  move  on  the  2yth  of  April, 
precisely  one  year  from  the  day  the  Regiment  marched  out  of 


84  REMINISCENCES    OF 

their  camp  at  Stafford  Court  House  for  Chancellorsville.  Orders 
to  move  made  quite  a  stir  in  camp.  But  it  was  no  great  effort 
for  a  soldier  to  pack  up  his  effects,  and  at  4  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon  they  were  on  the  road  to  Decherd.  The  citizens  around 
Elk  river  expressed  many  regrets  at  their  leaving,  and  paid  many 
compliments  to  the  boys  for  their  good  conduct  and  civility. 
On  the  morning  of  the  28th  they  took  up  their  line  of  march 
toward  the  Cumberland  mountains,  and  at  2  p.  M.  ,  commenced 
the  ascent.  At  night  they  arrived  at  University  Place,  where  was 
to  have  been  the  great  university  of  the  Confederate  states.  It  is 
about  six  miles  from  the  top  of  the  mountain,  and  is  an  open 
space  of  a  couple  of  acres.  One  mile  from  the  university  the 
Cowan  &  Tracy  R.  R.  runs,  which  was  built  to  carry  coal  out  of 
the  coal  mines  in  the  mountains.  A  few  dilapidated  houses  were 
to  be  seen  in  the  mountains.  The  next  day  by  sundown  they 
were  off  the  mountain,  the  road  over  being  about  twenty  miles. 
At  the  foot  of  the  mountains  they  emerged  into  "Sweden's 
Cove,''  a  valley  formed  by  the  spurs  of  the  mountain.  There  are 
numerous  coves  of  the  same  description  all  along  the  foot  of  the 
mountain.  Sweden's  Cove  is  seven  miles  long,  and  from  one- 
half  to  three-fourths  of  a  mile  wide. 

The  next  day,  April  3Oth,  they  reached  old  Bridgeport,  which 
was  almost  like  getting  home  again  to  the  boys,  so  familiar  were 
they  with  everything  in  and  around  the  place.  They  bivouacked 
on  the  island.  The  island  is  perhaps  four  miles  long,  and  from 
one-fourth  to  one-half  a  mile  wide,  covered  with  wood,  and  has 
a  rich  alluvial  soil. 

May  ist  they  crossed  the  other  branch  of  the  Tennessee  river 
on  a  pontoon  bridge,  and  reached  Shellmound  in  a  few  hours, 
where  they  camped  for  the  night.  The  Regiment  pushed  on 
again  next  morning,  passing  around  the  point  of  Lookout  Moun 
tain,  and  on  the  3d  camped  near  Chattanooga.  The  Regiment 
marched  over  the  battle  field  of  Chickamauga,  past  Gordon's 


THE     123D    REGIMENT. 

Mills  and  Cane's  Springs,  and  through  Nicajack  Gap  to  Trickem, 
and  immediately  after  the  seizure  of  Snake  Creek  Gap  by  Sher 
man,  the  zoth  Corps  by  an  all  night's  march  reached  there,  and 
our  Regiment  in  common  with  several  others  had  to  ascend  the 
mountain  on  the  left  of  the  gap,  and  on  the  summit  they  built 
breastworks.  From  this  elevation  the  boys  looked  off  to  the 
south  and  east,  in  a  densely  wooded  country  which  they  believed 
to  be  truly  "Dixie's  land."  Here  it  was  expected  the  "great  bat 
tle  of  the  West"  would  be  fought,  but  after  a  few  days  of  skillful 
manoeuvering  by  Gen.  Sherman,  the  enemy  found  themselves  so 
completely  flanked,  that  a  retreat  amounting  almost  to  a  stam 
pede  was  the  result.  Falling  back  and  reorganizing  on  a  new- 
line  near  Resaca,  he  ensconced  himself  behind  a  heavy  line  of 
fortifications,  which  had  been  previously  prepared.  So  perfect 
and  formidable  were  these  works  that  scarcely  an  acre  of  ground 
could  be  found  within  ten  miles  but  was  protected  by  direct  and 
enfilading  fire  from  several  batteries.  The  prospect  of  hurling 
themselves  on  these  slaughter  pens  was  anything  but  agreeable  to 
the  boys  after  they  in  a  measure  had  become  aware  of  their 
strength.  Still  Sherman  seemed  determined  to  give  them  battle 
on  their  own  grounds,  calculating  that  his  superiority  of  numbers 
and  morale  would  more  than  overcome  their  advantage  of  breast 
works. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  I4th  the  Regiment,  with  the  balance 
of  the  Division,  was  moved  to  the  left  where  the  4th  Corps  was 
fighting,  and  was  already  overcome  by  superior  numbers  in  their 
flank. 

The  Rebels  were  sent  back  flying  before  the  red  stars,  and 
thereby  the  4th  Corps  was  saved,  and  virtually  the  battle.  But 
it  was  the  next  day  that  "Hooker's  Ironclads"  (as  the  enemy 
called  Hooker's  men)  added  new  glory  to  their  already  high  rep 
utation,  and  not  only  overcame  the  prejudice  so  strong  against 


86  REMINISCENCES    OF 

the  Potomac  boys,  but  placed  them  in  the  very  highest  estima 
tion  by  all  the  army. 

May  1 5th  at  12  o'clock  the  Brigade  was  formed  in  front  of  the 
breastworks,  the  long  line  advancing,  often  halting  to  reform. 
They  advanced  nearly  a  mile  when  they  were  halted,  and  other 
Brigades  were  seen  taking  positions  on  the  left,  while  those  on 
the  right  were  probably  in  position  before.  Heavy  firing  was 
heard  on  the  right.  Regiments  of  the  Brigade  to  which  the 
1 2 3d  belonged  were  warmly  engaged,  while  away  to  the  left  from 
Gen.  Roger's  Brigade  was  heard  heavy  musketry  tiring,  as  the 
Rebels  charged  upon  them  and  were  driven  back.  From  the 
position  of  the  Regiment  the  Rebels  did  not  swing  around  near 
enough  for  it  to  open  fire  at  tirst,  and  in  obedience  to  orders  held 
their  fire,  expecting  to  get  a  better  chance.  It  was  hard  work 
for  the  boys  to  hold  still  while  they  were  under  a  galling  fire  from 
the  enemy.  The  position  of  the  Regiment  was  very  much  ex 
posed,  being  in  an  open  field  on  the  crest  of  a  hill,  and  in  plain 
sight  of  the  Rebel  works.  The}-  saw  the  Rebels  bring  up  a  bat 
tery,  and  planting  their  pieces  throw  shut  and  shell  right  into 
their  faces. 

While  the  1 23d  held  the  open  field,  the  rest  of  the  Brigade 
was  not  idle.  The  14 ist  New  York  charged  furiously  and  with 
great  loss  on  the  right;  the  5th  Connecticut  and  46th  Pennsyl 
vania  kept  pouring  the  contents  of  1,500  rifles  into  the  aston 
ished  columns  of  the  enemy.  Driven  to  desperation  by  the 
assault,  they  in  turn  made  an  effort  to  charge  the  line  where  the 
Regiment  was  stationed,  coming  out  of  their  works  in  excellent 
order,  their  battle  flags  flying  defiantly,  yelling  like  demons. 
The  boys  let  them  come  up  into  easy  range,  when  like  the  burst 
ing  of  a  whirlwind  they  poured  a  hot  fire  into  their  front  and 
flanks.  At  first  they  tried  to  face  the  storm  of  lead  and  iron, 
then,  staggering  and  swaying  like  a  crowd  of  drunken  men, 
they  moved  to  the  left,  hoping  to  find  the  2cl  Brigade  easier  to 


THE     123!)    REGIMENT.  8  7 

handlc,  but  here  again  they  were  severely  beaten,   and  rushed 
back  pell  mell  into  their  breastworks.      The  work  was  done. 

That  night  the  Regiment  was  advanced  a  little,  and  they 
worked  until  after  midnight  building  breastworks,  and  while  at 
work  the  pioneers  dug  into  the  Rebel  work  and  drew  off  a  piece 
of  artillery.  Some  of  the  boys  took  a  stroll  across  the  field  by 
the  pale  moonlight  to  see  some  of  the  victims  of  the  struggle. 
In  the  immediate  front  of  the  Regiment  there  were  not  so  many 
as  in  some  other  parts  ot  the  field,  but  there  were  enough.  Here 
and  there  lay  the  boys  in  their  army  blue.  They  had  fallen  with 
their  faces  to  the  foe:  they  had  fought  their  last  tight.  They 
were  from  different  regiments,  and  the  late  of  many  has  probably 
been  shrouded  in  mystery  to  their  friends. 

No  person  who  has  not  been  upon  the  ground,  and  an  eye 
witness  of  the  stirring  scenes  which  there  transpire,  can  begin  to 
comprehend  from  a  description  the  terrible  realities  of  a  battle, 
and  even  those  who  participated  are  competent  to  speak  only  of 
their  own  personal  experience.  Where  friends  and  foes  are  falling 
by  scores,  and  every  species  of  missile  is  flying  through  the  air. 
threatening  every  instant  to  send  one  into  eternity,  little  time  is 
afforded  for  more  observation  than  is  required  for  personal  safe 
ty.  Therefore  no  two  men  will  give  the  same  description  of  a 
battle.  Q 

"The  scene  is  one  of  the  most  exciting  and  exhilarating  that 
can  be  conceived.  Imagine  a  regiment  passing  you  at  "'double- 
quick.  '  the  men  cheering  with  enthusiasm,  their  teeth  set,  their 
eyes  flashing,  and  the  whole  a  frenzy  of  resolution.  You  accom 
pany  them  to  the  field.  They  halt.  The  clear  voices  of  officers 
ring  along  the  line  in  tones  of  passionate  eloquence,  their  words 
hot,  thrilling  and  elastic.  The  word  is  given  to  march,  and  the 
body  moves  into  action.  For  the  first  time  in  your  life  you  lis 
ten  to  the  whizzing  of  iron.  Grape  and  canister  fly  into  the 
ranks,  bombshells  burst  overhead,  and  the  fragments  fly  all 


Ob  REMINISCENCES    OF 

around  you.  A  friend  falls;  perhaps  a  dozen  or  twenty  of  your 
comrades  lie  wounded  or  dying  at  your  feet;  a  strange,  involuntary 
shrinking  steals  over  you  which  it  is  impossible  to  resist.  You 
feel  inclined  neither  to  advance  nor  recede,  but  are  spellbound 
by  the  contending  emotions  of  the  moral  and  physical  man. 
The  cheek  blanqhes,  the  lip  quivers,  and  the  eye  almost  hes 
itates  to  look  upon  the  scene.  In  this  attitude  you  may,  per 
haps,  be  ordered  to  stand  an  hour,  inactive,  havoc  meanwhile 
marking  its  footsteps  with  blood  on  every  side.  Finally  the  order 
is  given  to  advance,  to  fire  or  to  charge.  And  now  what  a  met 
amorphosis  !  With  your  first  shot  you  become  a  new  man. 
Personal  safety  is  your  least  concern.  Fear  has  no  existence  in 
your  bosom.  Hesitation  gives  way  to  an  uncontrollable  desire 
to  rush  into  the  thickest  of  the  fight.  The  dead  and  dying  around 
you,  if  they  receive  a  passing  thought,  but  serve  to  stimulate  you 
to  revenge.  You  become  cool  and  deliberate,  and  watch  the 
effect  of  bullets,  the  shower  of  bursting  shells,  the  passage  of 
cannon-balls  as  they  rake  their  murderous  channels  through 
your  ranks,  the  plunging  of  wounded  horses,  the  agonies  of  the 
dying,  and  the  clash  of  contending  arms  which  follows  the  dash 
ing  charge,  with  feelings  so  calloused  by  surrounding  circum 
stances  that  your  soul  seems  dead  to  every  selfish  thought.  Such 
is  the  spirit  which  carries  the  soldjer  through  the  field  of  battle. 
But  when  the  excitement  has  passed,  when  the  roll  of  musketry 
has  ceased,  the  noisy  voices  of  the  cannon  are  stilled,  the  dusky 
pall  of  sulpherous  smoke  has  risen  from  the  field,  and  you  stroll 
across  the  theatre  of  carnage,  hearing  the  groans  of  the  wound 
ed,  discovering  here,  shattered  almost  beyond  recognition,  the 
form  of  some  dear  friend  whom  only  an  hour  before  you  met  in 
the  full  flush  of  life  and  happiness,  there  another  perforated  by 
a  bullet,  a  third  with  a  limb  shot  away,  a  fourth  with  his  face 
disfigured,  a  fifth  torn  almost  to  fragments,  a  sixth  a  headless 
corpse,  the  ground  ploughed  up  and  stained  with  blood,  human 


THE     I23D    REGIMENT.  89 

brains  splashed  around,  limbs  without  bodies  and  bodies  with 
out  limbs  scattered  here  and  there,  and  the  same  picture  dupli 
cated  scores  of  times, — then  you  begin  to  realize  the  horrors  of 
war,  and  experience  a  reaction  of  nature.  The  heart  opens  its 
floodgates,  humanity  asserts  herself  again  and  you  begin  to  feel. 
Friends  and  foe  alike  now  receive  your  kindest  ministerings. 
The  enemv,  whom  but  a  short  time  before  you  were  trying  to  kill, 
you  now  endeavor  to  save.  You  supply  him  with  water  to 
quench  his  thirst,  with  food  to  sustain  his  strength,  and  with 
sympathizing  words  to  soothe  his  troubled  mind.  All  that  is 
human  or  charitable  in  your  nature  now  rises  to  the  surface,  and 
you  are  animated  by  that  spirit  of  mercy  ''which  blesseth  him 
that  gives  and  him  that  takes."  A  battle  field  is  eminently  a 
place  that  tries  men's  souls. 

The  casualties  in  the  123(1  Regiment  at  the  battle  of  Resaca, 
in  killed  and  wounded,  was  as  follows: 

A — Wounded — Charles  Tciit. 

B  -Killed— Sergt.  W.  P.  Harris.      Wounded— Ed.  Pierson. 
F — Wounded — James  T.  Hay. 
H — Wounded — William   Pierce. 

K- — Killed' — John  Pitts,  William  Waters.      Wounded — Amos 
C.  Potter. 

This  was  the  first  engagement  Waters  had  been  in,  having  en 
listed  not  quite  two  months  previous  and  had  arrived  that  same 
day  with  the  recruiting  party.  The  Regiment  occupied  the  only 
exposed  position  in  the  Brigade — or  Corps  for  what  we  know- 
on  a  ridge  running  nearly  parallel  with  the  enemy's  breastworks, 
with  not  a  tree  or  shrub  in  front.  The  Rebels  brought  up  a 
piece  of  artillery,  placed  it  in  position,  pointed  it  directly  for  the 
right  of  the  Regiment,  loaded  it  with  all  care,  and  threw  a  shell 
directly  into  Co.  K.  The  entire  Regiment  lay  flat  on  the 
ground,  but  notwithstanding  this,  the  first  shell  tore  off  one  of 
Waters'  leers.  The  erim  was  aerain  loaded  and  fired  and  the  other 


90  REMINISCENCES    OF 

leg  was  taken  off.  Still  the  Regiment  lay  there,  when  by 
moving  a  few  feet  back  they  might  have  been  out  of  range  of 
that  piece  of  artillery.  The  third  shell  exploded  directly  over 
the  company,  injuring  no  one,  but  it  seemed  to  stun  the  entire 
company,  having  the  same  effect  that  a  blow  on  the  head  from 
a  club  would.  After  this  the  Regiment  was  ordered  to  fall  back 
a  few  rods  to  a  place  of  perfect  safety.  Of  course  the  Regiment 
was  put  in  this  exposed  position  for  a  purpose — to  attract  the 
attention  and  fire  of  the  Rebels  while  Gen.  Hooker  massed  his 
troops  in  the  woods. 

Gen.  Hooker  was  everywhere  present  on'  his  black  charger. 
To  the  left  of  the  i23d  Regiment  was  a  piece  of  woods,  back  of 
which  was  a  large  open  field.  Orderlies  were  seen  galloping 
here  and  there  just  before  the  fight  opened,  and  soon  regiment 
after  regiment  was  seen  entering  the  woods  on  the  left,  massing. 
Hooker  passed  near  the  Regiment,  when  the  boys  lifted  their 
hats  to  give  him  a  cheer  ;  he  halted  his  horse  and  said,  "Boys, 
keep  still  and  keep  cool ;  there's  a  hen  on. "  And  the  rebels 
found  it  a  good  sized  "hen/'  too. 


THK    12JD    RKGOIKM.  9! 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

FROM  RESACA  TO  CASSVILLE— THE  FIGHT  AT-  CASSViLLE  -  THE  BATTLE 
OF  CALL  AS -COL.  McDOUGALL  MORTALLY  WOUNDED— LIST  OF  KILLED 
AND  WOUNDED— LOST  MOUNTAIN— PINE  HILL. 

ON  the  morning  of  the  i6th  all  seemed  to  be  quiet  along 
the  Rebel  line,  and  it  was  surmisxl  that  they  had  "  ske 
daddled.''  Co.  C,  with  two  other  companies,  was  ordered  out  on 
the  skirmish  line.  Advancing  steadily  they  soon  reached  the 
Rebel  works.  They  were  found  vacant.  Over  them  they  went 
and  on  through  the  woods  and  fields,  and  it  was  found  the  Rebels 
had  shaken  the  dust  of  Resaca  from  their  feet  and  departed,  and 
judging  from  the  things  strewn  along  the  road  they  did  not  stand 
'>n  their  manner  of  going. 

The  army  was  immediately  put  in  motion  in  pursuit  of  the 
enemy,  moving  steadily  forward  through  Resaca,  but  before 
reaching  the  town  saw  a  train  of  cars  bringing  up  supplies  for 
the  army.  The  Regiment  bivouacked  for  the  night  near  a  small 
stream.  The  i  yth  they  did  not  march  very  far.  The  morning 
of  the  1 8th  the  boys  were  up  early,  and  by  3  o'clock  commenced 
the  march  and  marched  very  rapidly,  crossing  Coosawattee  river, 
passing  through  Calhoun,  and  at  10  o'clock  at  night  bivouacked 
a  few  miles  from  Cassville.  The  morning  of  the  iyth  they  made 


92  REMINISCENCES    OF 

another  early  start,  being  ahead  and  led  by  Gen.  Hooker.  After 
severe  marching  they  finally  came  upon  the  Rebels  strongly  for 
tified  at  Cassvillc.  'The  Regiment  moved  up  to  where  a  battery 
had  opened  upon  the  Rebels,  and  then  moved  up  under  a  knoll, 
and  after  waiting  there  a  short  time  they  advanced  across  a  field, 
over  the  enemy's  breastworks,  through  thick  woods  which  were 
burning,  the  boys  having  to  run  through  to  keep  from  choking. 
They  finally  reached  a  position  where  they  could  see  the  Rebels 
firing  from  a  battery  upon  our  troops.  The  Regiment  was 
ordered  down  the  line  to  support  a  battery.  The}'  took  a 
double-quick,  the  Rebels  throwing  shells  at  them  as  they  went. 
One  shell  struck  near  Co.  D,  and  exploded,  one  of  the  pieces 
knocking  down  Private  Woodruff,  injuring  him  quite  severely. 
The  Regiment  gained  their  position  without  loss  of  life,  and  lay 
down  on  the  ground,  where  they  remained  until  nearly  night, 
when  they  were  relieved  by  another  regiment.  In  the  evening 
our  troops  took  possession  of  Cassville,  the  enemy  (ailing  back. 

The  enemy  were  really  frightened  out  of  a  verv  formidable 
position,  and  one  they  had  evidently  intended  to  hold.  Indeed, 
they  were  so  determined  to  make  a  strong  line  that  they  had  not 
hesitated  to  run  it  through  a  beautiful  cemetery,  and  the  graves, 
in  many  cases,  were  shovelled  open,  to  throw  up  the  breastworks. 
Nearly  every  monument  and  headstone  was  broken  to  fragments, 
and  the  whole  enclosure  was  little  else  than  a  rubbish  heap. 

The  morning  of  the  2oth  dawned  pleasantly,  and  the  Regi 
ment  moved  down  near  the  village.  Cassville  was  a  beautiful 
little  village,  but  a  deserted  one.  The  citizens  had  left  their 
homes  and  fled  on  the  approach  of  the  Yankees,  Johnson  having 
told  them  to  flee,  for  their  lives  were  in  danger  if  they  remained. 
The  Regiment  camped  there  four  days,  subsisting  mostly  on 
the  country,  and  during  this  time  no  less  than  four  hundred 
prisoners  came  in  voluntarily,  and  asked  permission  to  take  the 


THE    I  2 3D    REGIMENT.  93 

oath.  They  represented  their  wives  and  families  starving  at 
home,  while  they  were  hazarding  their  lives  in  a  cause  with  which 
they  had  no  sympathy,  and  in  whose  success  they  had  no  interest. 
The  country  through  which  our  line  of  march  extended,  was 
stripped  of  everything, — literally  "cleaned  out."  Large  and 
thrifty  fields  of  corn,  wheat  and  oats  soon  disappeared  under  the 
hungry  mouths  of  an  army  of  horses.  For  a  width  of  twenty 
miles  not  an  acre  of  any  kind  of  forage  was  left.  Even-  head 
of  stock  was  "confiscated.  Inspired  with  a  perfect  terror  of 
the  Yankees,  which  had  been  taught  them  for  years  by  their 
leaders,  the  poor  ignorants  ran  frantically  into  the  woods  and 
secreted  themselves.  A  fewr  remained,  but  they  appeared  as 
much  afraid  of  the  boys  as  if  they  had  been  a  pack  of  ravenous 
hyenas.  Those  who  remained  did  well,  for  their  property  was  not 
destroyed,  but  where  a  house  was  found  deserted  it  did  not  fare 
as  well.  It  was  indeed  a  pretty  village,  with  fine  walks,  well 
shaded,  and  several  very  handsome  private  residences,  but  its 
beautv  was  somewhat  marred  from  the  effects  of  both  armies. 

The  boys  drew  six  day's  rations,  an  indication  of  more  "busi 
ness  in  store  for  them.  On  the  morning  of  the  23d  the  army 
moved.  The  weather  was  extremely  hot,  and  many  of  the  boys 
in  the  Regiment  threw  away  blankets,  tents,  knapsack,-  and  all 
save  haversack  and  accoutrements.  They  marched  eight  miles 
in  a  southeasterly  direction  from  Cassville,  crossed  the  Etowah 
river,  and  bivouacked  in  a  piece  of  woods  a  short  distance  beyond. 
The  morning  of  the  24th  they  started  bright  and  early,  and 
inarched  about  fifteen  miles  in  a  southeasterly  direction,  most  of 
the  way  along  the  summit  of  a  ridge  covered  with  yellow  pine, 
passing  through  Euharlee  and  Burnt  Hickory,  and  made  camp 
about  4  o'clock  p.  M.,  in  the  woods,  a  short  distance  from  Hunts- 
ville,  a  place  of  three  or  four  houses,  a  postoffice  and  one  store. 

At  sunrise  on  the  25th  of  May,  the  Regiment  was  up  and 
away.  After  marching  about  five  miles  they  reached  Pumpkin 


94  REMINISCENCES    OF 

Vine  creek,  and  there  halted  and  made  coffee  while  a  bridge  was 
being  repaired.  Soon  after  pushing  across  the  creek,  firing  was 
heard  in  the  direction  taken  by  Geary's  division,  and  after  inarch 
ing  about  two  miles  from  the  creek,  an  Orderly  was  seen  riding 
at  full  speed  toward  the  head  of  the  column,  his  horse  covered 
with  foam.  All  laughter  and  joking  immediately  ceased  along 
the  line.  Soon  the  expected  order  came  to  "about  face,  double- 
quick,  march,"  and  the  column  pushed  back  to  Pumpkin  Vine 
creek,  across  the  little  bridge,  and  on  to  the  support  of  Gen. 
Geary  whose  column  had  been  attacked  on  Alatona  Ridge,  along 
the  road  leading  to  Dallas. 

The  Rebel  Gen.  Johnson  leaving  Cassville  made  a  masterly 
retreat  to  a  high,  rough  range  of  mountains,  just  over  the 
Alatona  creek.  Here  they  had  a  perfect  Gibraltar.  Work  after 
work,  behind  and  above  each  other.  Probably  the}-  thought  the 
"Yanks'"  insane  enough  to  commit  suicide  then  and  there,  but 
they  "didn't  see  it."  Gen.  Sherman,  alter  throwing  a  few  shells 
among  the  enemy  by  way  of  a  feint,  drew  his  army  to  the  west,  in 
the  direction  of  Dallas,  and  before  the  Rebels  knew  what  the 
"Yanks"  were  at,  they  had  gone  completely  to  the  rear  of  their 
Gibraltar,  thus  rendering  it  entirely  useless.  Johnson  then  fell 
back  again  to  another  line,  Geary's  division  ran  onto  it,  and  this 
brought  on  the  battle  of  Dallas,  or  New  Hope  church,  the 
second  in  the  campaign. 

As  the  ist  division  came  up  on  a  run,  the  three  brigades  in 
the  division  were  formed  in  lines  of  battle  to  the  right  of  Geary's 
position.  This  brought  the  i23d  Regiment  in  the  second  line 
of  battle.  When  all  was  ready,  (and  it  did  not  take  long  to  get 
ready),  the  order  was  given  to  advance.  They  made  a  splendid 
charge,  of  nearly  a  mile,  driving  the  enemy,  but  coming  to  their 
massive  works  they  could  go  no  further.  The  first  line  was  but 
a  short  distance  from  the  enemy's  works,  and  when  they  had 


THE    IZJD    RKGIMENT.  95 

fired  away  their  ammunition  the  second  line  went  to  their  relief 
with  a  yell.  Down  into  and  across  a  ravine,  and  up  a  hill,  and 
how  the  grape  and  canister,  solid  shot  and  shell  and  minie  balls 
did  fly  !  and  the  only  thing  that  saved  the  Regiment  from  being 
cut  to  pieces  was  the  tact  that  these  missiles  of  death  passed 
mostly  over  their  heads.  In  the  advance  Col.  McDougall,  while 
bravely  urging  his  men  on,  was  wounded,  the  fatal  bullet  enter 
ing  his  knee,  shattering  it  frightfully.  As  the  bullet  struck  him 
he  fell  to  the  ground,  and  called  to  be  taken  from  the  field. 
Some  of  the  boys  assisted  him  to  the  field  hospital,  where  his 
leg  was  amputated  early  the  next  morning,  from  which  he  died 
at  Chattanooga  on  the  2$d  of  June,  1864,  about  one  month 
after  being  wounded.  About  the  time  Col.  McDougall  was 
wounded  Maj.  Tanner  was  also  slightly  wounded  in  both  legs, 
but  soon  joined  the  Regiment  amid  the  cheers  of  the  boys,  who 
lay  on  the  ground  within  a  few  feet  of  the  enemy  s  cannon.  This 
management,  and  the  nearness  of  the  Rebel  works  saved  the 
Regiment  from  destruction.  From  4  p.  M.  till  dark  the  boys 
were  under  a  terrific  fire.  In  the  darkness  and  rain  they  reformed 
their  line,  threw  out  videttes,  and  gathering  the  branches  of  trees 
cut  down  by  the  enemy's  artillery,  made  rude  breastworks.  Late 
in  the  night  another  regiment  came  to  relieve  them.  As  the  line 
went  over  the  Regiment  the  boys  told  them  to  look  out  as  they 
would  not  go  far,  and  to  be  very  quiet,  but  contrary  to  the  ad 
vice  given,  the  officer  in  command,  in  a  loud,  pompous  tone, 
gave  the  order  to  "  right  dress, "  when  the  enemy  opened  with 
grape  and  canister  and  nearly  swept  away  the  relieving  force,  and 
came  near  earning  the  Regiment  with  them,  but  the  boys  quick 
ly  and  quietly  obeyed  orders  and  the  line  was  held.  About  4 
o'clock  next  morning  the  Regiment  was  relieved  and  passed  to 
the  rear,  where  they  made  coffee  and  sought  a  few  hours'  rest 
after  the  exciting  events  of  the  day  and  night. 


(p  REMINISCENCES    OF 

At  the  battle  of  Dallas,  or  New  Hope  Church,  the  Regiment 
lost  the  following  in  killed  and  wounded  : 

Col.  A.  L.  McDougall,  died  of  wounds. 

Maj.  A.  Tanner,  wounded. 

B — Wounded — Lieut.  G.  W.  Smith,  William  Barbour,  Ber 
nard  Carroll. 

D — Killed — James  L.  Cummings.      Wounded — Orson  Brinor, 

E — -Wounded — Franklin  W'oodard. 

F — Wounded — William  C.  Campbell. 

G — Wounded — Peter  Crombie,  died  of  wounds. 

H — Wounded — Henry  J.  Cleveland,  L.  S.  Amidon. 

I— Killed— Robert  W.  Skellie.  Wounded— Lewis  S.  Tripp. 
John  Obern. 

K — Wounded— Horace  Tooley,  died  of  wounds. 

The  number  of  killed  and  wounded  in  the  Division  was   950. 

There  was  a  continuous  skirmish  on  the  picket  line  all  day 
the  26th,  but  no  general  engagement  was  brought  on.  There 
was  hard  fighting  on  the  right  and  left  the  27th,  and  about  half 
past  four  the  enemy  charged  the  centre,  the  battle  raging  with 
great  fur}' until  darkness  closed  the  bloody  strife.  An  occasional 
shell  would  strike  near  the  Regiment,  and  the  2 8th  they  moved 
back  out  of  range.  The  night  of  the  2  8th  the  Rebels  tried 
hard  to  break  the  front  line,  but  were  repulsed  with  great  slaugh 
ter.  The  29th  there  was  continual  skirmishing,  and  at  about  9 
o'clock  at  night  the  enemy  seemed  to  have  made  an  advance 
along  the  entire  line.  The  battle  raged  furiously  at  intervals 
during  the  entire  night. 

Although  the  Regiment  was  not  on  the  front  line,  they  were 
in  an  exposed  position,  and  the  boys  were  in  terrible  suspense, 
not  knowing  what  moment  they  would  be  called  into  action. 
They  lay  by  divisions,  closed  en  masse,  and  their  shelter  tents 
which  they  had  put  up  to  keep  off  the  hot  sun,  were  huddled 
together  in  all  shapes.  There  was  no  heavy  fighting  on  the  3oth, 
but  the  skirmishers  kept  banging  away  all  day.  On  the  3ist  the 
skirmishers  were  not  so  noisy,  only  now  and  then  a  gun  being 


THE     I23D    REGIMENT.  97 

heard,  when  some  venturesome  Rebel  exposed  himself  and  was 
fired  at  by  the  boys. 

At  about  jo  o'clock,   June  ist,  troops  from  the  5th  Corps  re 
lieved  the  Regiment,   and   the   boys  were  marched  about  four 
miles  to  the  left  of  the  line  and  bivouacked  for  the  night  in  the 
rear  of  the  I4th  Corps.      The  2(1  of  June  they  were  moved  about 
one  mile  still  further  to  the  left  of  the  line,  supporting  troops  be 
longing  to  the  23d  Corps,  who  were  gradually  turning  the  right 
flank  of  the  Rebels.      There  came  up  a  terrible  rain  storm  which 
thoroughly  wet  the  boys.      Gens.    Sherman,    Hooker,   Schofield, 
arid  several  other  generals,  sought  shelter  under  a  pile  of  rails, 
and  sat  there  talking  and   smoking  until  after  the  shower  had 
passed  over.      After  the  shower  the  Regiment  moved  forward  to 
a  line  of  breastworks.      The  3d,  the  23d  Corps  moved  to  the  left. 
This  brought  the  boys  in  the  front  line  where  they  remained  all 
day.      The  4th,    Gen.  Hooker  with  the  3d  Division  moved  to 
the  left.      The  5th,  the  Regiment  was  relieved  by  troops  belong 
ing  to  the  1 4th  Corps,  when  they  moved  about  four  miles  to  the 
left  and  bivouacked  for  the  night,  cavalry  being  in  front.      The 
morning  of  the   6th  the  boys  were  routed  early,  and   marched 
about  three  miles  in  a  southeasterly  direction,   and  bivouacked 
in  the  rear  of  Lost   Mountain,  on  which  was  a  signal   station. 
The  2d  and  3d  Brigades  were  in  front,  the  3d  Division  forming 
on  their  left,  and  the  ist  Brigade  was  held  in  reserve  in  rear  of 
the  2d  and  3d  Brigades.      They  lay  in   this  position  four  days, 
arid  on  Saturday,  June  nth,  formed  line  of  battle  on  the  left  of 
the  3d  Division,  getting  into  position  about  dark.      The  i2th  the 
boys  built  breastworks  in  a  hard  rain  on  the  line  formed  the  night 
previous.      All  day  the  skirmishers  were  busily  engaged,  and  an 
attack  on  the  line  was  expected.      The   i3th  it  rained  hard  all 
day,  and  owing  to  the  quantity  of  rain  which  had  fallen  the  roads 
and  iields  were  in  bad  condition  for  marching. 


1)  REMINISCENCES    OF 

They  remained  quiet  the  I4th,  but  at  noon  the  i5th  the  Reg 
iment  advanced  southward  beyond  and  to  the  right  of  Pine  Hill, 
and  on  a  line  between  that  and  Lost  Mountain,  following  the 
skirmishers  until  they  came  upon  the  enemy's  works.  Quite  a 
lively  fight  was  then  had,  Lieut.  Win.  B.  Brown  and  Harlan 
Harrington  of  Co.  B  being  slightly  wounded,  but  mo.st  of  the 
fighting  was  in  Gen.  Geary's  Division.  The  Regiment  went  up 
handsomely  expecting  to  be  heavily  engaged.  As  soon  as  they 
took  position  they  lay  flat  on  the  ground,  the  shot  and  shell 
passing  over  them.  In  this  position  the  Regiment  remained  all 
night  with  their  guns  in  hand.  The  moon  shone  brightly,  and 
as  the  boys  lay  there  upon  their  backs  their  thoughts  wandered 
away  from  the  bloody  strife  and  gory  battle-fields  to  the  loved 
ones  at  home. 

The  morning  of  the  i6th  dawned  bright  and  beautiful.  In 
plain  sight  of  the  Regiment  lay  Pine  Hill.  A  squad  of  Rebel 
officers  was  seen  to  ride  up  on  the  hill ;  some  dismounted  while 
others  remained  on  their  horses,  and  all  seemed  intently  viewing 
our  camp.  An  artilleryman  seeing  them  loaded  his  piece,  and 
taking  good  sight  threw  a  shell  directly  among  them,  which,  ex 
ploding,  killed  some  and  wounded  others.  The  boys  always 
believed  that  this  shot  killed  the  Rebel  Gen.  Polk. 

The  Regiment  moved  to  the  left  of  the  line  and  built  breast 
works  between  the  zd  Brigade  and  4th  Corps  and  in  plain  sight 
of  the  enemy's  works.  The  Rebels  opened  a  battery  on  the 
boys  but  with  no  damage,  and  our  battery  soon  silenced  them. 
The  morning  of  the  iyth  not  a  Rebel  was  seen  in  front,  and  an 
advance  movement  was  made.  On  the  march  they  passed  an 
old  log  house,  on  the  door  of  which,  written  with  chalk,  were 
these  words  :  "You  d — d  Yankees,  you  have  killed  our  old 
General  Polk. "  The  Regiment  pushed  on,  and  after  marching 
about  two  miles  found  the  enemy  posted  on  a  ridge  running 


THK     1230    RKGIMKNT.  99 

south  from  Kenesaw  mountain,  and  about  four  miles  from 
Marietta.  The  first  knowledge  the  boys  had  of  their  nearness  to 
the  enemy  was  the  whizzing  of  what  they  supposed  was  a  shell 
which  struck  near  the  Regiment,  wounding  two  men  slightly, 
but  which  proved  to  be  the  barrel  of  an  old  revolver  fired  from 
the  enemy's  cannon.  Several  spent  balls  came  whizzing  into  the 
Regiment,  one  striking  Henry  Cleveland  of  Co.  H  in  the  breast, 
with  just  enough  force  to  lodge  in  his  clothes  but  not  to  wound 
him.  The  Regiment  filed  to  the  left  into  the  woods  and  formed 
line,  at  the  same  time  Gen.  Hooker  dashed  by  followed  by  a 
battery,  which  proceeded  ahead  a  short  distance  and  was  planted 
at  the  edge  of  the  woods  and  on  the  crest  of  a  hill.  From  this 
hill  the  Rebel  wagon  train  could  be  seen  hurrying  along  with 
all  possible  speed.  Three  men  were  stationed  just  in  front  of 
the  Regiment  at  the  opening  of  the  woods  taking  signals  from 
the  Rebel  signal  post  in  the  distance.  The  Regiment  lay  in  the 
woods  that  night  and  all  day  the  i8th,  the  ist  Division  and  4th 
Corps  artillery  keeping  up  a  continual  cannonading.  It  rained 
hard  nearly  all  dav,  which  did  not  add  to  the  comfort  of  the  bovs. 


IQO  REMINISCENCES    OF 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

BATTLE  OF  GULP'S  FARM— THE  REGIMENT  ON  THE  SKIRMISH  LINE— 
WILLARD  IN  A  TIGHT  PLACE— LIST  OF  KILLED.  WOUNDED  AND  MISS 
ING. 

THE  morning  of  June  iyth  the  boys  awoke  without  hearing 
the  usual  skirmish  firing,  and  it  was  soon  learned  that 
the  enemy  had  "lit  out"  during  the  night.  The  boys  hastily 
made  their  coffee,  for  they  knew  that  an  advance  would  soon  be 
made.  They  had  hardly  finished  their  morning's  repast  when 
they  were  ordered  to  move.  They  went  directly  forward  over 
the  enemy's  breastworks,  which  they  found  as  usual  very  strong. 
Many  expressed  themselves  as  being  well  satisfied  at  not  having 
to  charge  these  massive  works.  They  marched  about  two  miles, 
and  then  ran  into  the  skirmish  line,  they  having  advanced  as  far 
as  they  could,  having  driven  the  enemy's  skirmishers  into  their 
main  works.  The  Union  boys  had  drawn  by  hand  a  battery 
to  their  skirmish  line,  which  they  were  using  to  good  advan 
tage.  Towards  night  the  Regiment  built  breastworks  just  in 
rear  of  the  skirmish  line,  on  a  ridge  running  parallel  with  that 
last  occupied  by  the  Rebels.  The  boys  lugged  rails  in  a  heavy 
rain  and  under  a  sharp  fire  from  the  Rebels,  but  fortunately  no 
one  was  injured,  and  after  having  built  suitable  works,  lay  down 
behind  them,  and  went  to  sleep, 


THK     I23D    REGIMENT.  IOI 

Troops  from  the  4th  corps  relieved  the  Regiment  on  the 
morning  of  the  2oth  and  they  moved  towards  the  right  of  the 
line  about  one  mile  and  halted,  late  in  the  afternoon  pushed  on 
about  one  mile  further  towards  the  right,  and  bivouacked  in  an 
opening  between  the  31!  Division  and  23(1  Corps.  Heavy  fight 
ing  was  heard  on  the  left,  and  it  was  ascertained  that  the  enemy 
attacked  that  part  of  the  line  vacated  by  the  Regiment  in  the 
morning.  The  boys  threw  up  works  in  their  front.  The  2ist 
they  strengthened  their  works,  and  made  every  preparation  to 
receive  the  enemy  should  they  make  a  charge. 

About  10  o'clock  on  Wednesday,  June  22(1,  the  Regiment 
moved  to  the  left  of  the  line.  A  half-hour's  march  brought 
them  to  the  summit  of  a  long,  high  ridge,  where  the  pickets 
were  firing  very  briskly.  'The  2cl  Brigade  was  on  their  right, 
reaching  to  the  Marietta  road,  the  23d  Corps  being  on  the  right 
of  the  2d  Brigade,  the  balance  of  the  Division  being  on  the  left 
of  the  Regiment.  As  soon  as  the  Regiment  reached  the  ridge 
spoken  of  several  of  the  companies  were  deployed  as  skirmishers, 
the  balance  acting  as  support  to  the  line.  The  line  advanced, 
crowding  the  enemy  down  the  hill,  across  a  ravine  and  up  the 
next  knoll,  into  a  belt  of  dense  woods  on  the  crest  of  the  second 
knoll  and  into  their  strong  works.  The  rebel  pickets  went 
through  an  old  orchard  on  a  run  the  boys  firing  at  them  at  even- 
jump.  The  right  ot  the  skirmish  line  was  in  the  woods,  the  left 
in  an  open  field,  and  the  right  had  advanced  considerably  more 
than  the  left,  owing  to  their  cover.  Once  the  left  undertook  to 
straighten  the  line  by  advancing,  but  the  Rebels  opened  such  a 
terrific  fire  on  them  that  they  were  compelled  to  give  this  up. 
In  this  effort  to  straighten  the  "line  J.  Willard  Allen  of  Co.  C  suc 
ceeded  in  gaining  a  position  behind  a  stump  far  in  advance,  and 
did  not  fall  back  with  the  rest.  The  Rebels  must  have  known 
there  was  a  ''Yank"  behind  that  stump,  for  they  kept  pouring 


IO2  REMINISCENCES    OF 

the  minie  balls  into  it,  peeling  the  bark  off  from  each  side,  and 
knocking  the  splinters  from  the  top  of  it.  Willard  shrunk  him 
self  into  as  small  a  compass  as  he  possibly  could,  waiting  for  a 
favorable  opportunity  to  come  back.  The  enemy,  after  amusing 
themselves  for  awhile  at  Willard's  expense,  ceased  firing,  and 
seizing  the  favorable  opportunity,  he  made  a  few  rapid  and  very 
lengthy  jumps  and  landed  among  his  comrades,  and  glad  were 
they  to  welcome  him,  for  he  had  been  in  a  very  dangerous  posi 
tion.  The  Rebels  opened  fire  on  him  as  soon  as  they  saw  him, 
but  he  escaped  without  injury.  Lieut.  Quinn,  of  Co.  D,  in  his 
anxiety  to  straighten  the  line,  took  a  gun  in  his  hands  and  made 
an  advance,  calling  on  his  company  to  follow  him.  He  had 
advanced  but  a  few  steps  when  he  was  hit  in  the  face  with  a  bul 
let,  which  broke  his  lower  jaw,  and  he  fell  to  the  ground.  In 
this  position  he  lay  some  time.  Several  times  he  was  heard  to 
call,  "Company  C,  c-o-o-me  and  t-a-a-ke  me  in,"  and  as  often 
the  answer  would  be  yelled  back,  ''Lieu-ten-ant  Quinn,  g-o-o  to 

h 11  !"      After   awhile    he    came  in   without  any  assistance, 

the  Rebels  seeming  not  to  fire  at  him.  It  would  have  been  as 
much  as  a  man's  life  was  worth  to  have  gone  to  his  assistance, 
and  probably  this  was  what  Co.  C  thought.  After  this  effort  to 
straighten  the  line,  the  left  of  the  line  moved  by  the  right  flank 
into  the  woods,  and  then  by  the  left  flank  up  to  a  rail  fence,  and 
by  the  left  flank  again  along  the  rail  fence  and  lay  flat  on  the 
ground,  all  keeping  as  quiet  as  possible,  no  man  speaking  above 
a  whisper.  The  enemy  could  be  plainly  heard  moving  about  in 
the  woods  in  front  with  every  appearance  of  massing  their  troops. 
This  was  about  5  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Some  of  the  boys 
"slid"'  out  of  their  knapsacks,  and  noiselessly  commenced  fixing 
rails  in  front  of  them  for  breastworks.  In  the  meantime  Col. 
Rogers  had  sent  word  back  to  General  Knipe  that  the  Rebels 
were  massing  in  heavy  force  in  his  front,  and  then  commenced 
active  preparations  to  meet  them.  The  brass  battery  of  twelva 


THE     I2JD    RKG1MEXT.  103 

pounders  belonging  to  the  Brigade  was  fortified  with  rails  and 
logs  on  a  knoll  just  in  rear  of  the  i23cl's  skirmish  line. 

All  the  regiments  were  brought  up  on  the  crest  of  the  knoll 
on  a  line  with  the  batter}'  and  threw  up  temporary  breastworks 
of  rails  and  dirt,  and  how  the  men  did  make  the  dirt  fly  with 
shovels,  tin  plates  and  hands!  The  boys  could  hear  the  Rebels 
making  arrangements  to  charge,  yet  they  did  not  leave  their 
places  until  they  heard  the  general  give  the  command  to  "for 
ward,"  which  was  passed  from  captains  to  their  companies,  and 
then  out  of  the  woods  they  came.  The  skirmishers  on  the  right 
retreated  through  the  woods  ;  those  on  the  left  ran  down  into  a 
ravine,  and  this  act  saved  many  lives,  for  when  the  Rebels  fired 
a  volley  at  them,  the  bullets  mostly  passed  over  their  heads.  As 
they  raised  up  from  their  line  to  fall  back,  a  rattling  volley  of 
musketry  was  poured  into  the  brave  boys.  Then  as  they  returned 
the  fire,  out  moved  the  long  gray  lines  of  Stevenson's  Division 
of  Hood's  army  Corps.  Steadily,  almost  solemnly  they  emerge 
from  the  woods  in  three  heavy  lines,  with  bayonets  glistening  in 
the  setting  sun,  and  battle  flags  boastfully  flaunting  their  stars 
and  bars  in  lull  view.  The  glorious  old  Stars  and  Stripes  are 
unfurled  and  planted  on  the  breastworks,  and  with  a  pride  almost 
superhuman,  seemed  to  defy  the  traitors  to  come  on.  The  feel 
ings  of  the  boys  as  they  await  with  breathless  suspense,  amount 
almost  to  suffocation.  They  can  distinctly  see  the  Rebels  ad 
vancing  down  from  the  woods  till  they  have  nearly  come  halfway 
to  the  little  brook,  then  the  long  wished  for  command  comes, 
for  the  skirmishers  are  all  in.  ' '  Ready  men, "  ' '  fire  low,  "  com 
mence  firing. "  Boom !  Boom !  crashing  through  the  long 
lines  of  the  enemy  go  the  solid  shot,  while  every  musket  adds 
its  mite  to  help  its  larger  friends.  Now  screaming  and  yelling 
goes  a  broadside  of  shells,  tearing  and  smashing  in  the  solid 
columns,  who  stagger  and  waver  before  it,  yet  the  brave  Rebels 
press  on.  Why  do  they  dare  come  further  into  such  a  hot  hail 


IO4  REMINISCENCES    OF 

of  lead  and  iron?  But  hear  that  crashing,  rattling,  hissing 
volley  from  the  cannon  as  six  stands  of  canister  shot  goes  sowing 
death  among  the  enemy.  Yet  still  they  advance.  The  artillery 
men  begin  to  get  anxious  for  the  safety  of  their  pieces,  and  cram 
in  first  canister  and  then  a  shell  on  top  of  that.  Our  boys, 
enraged  at  the  perseverance  of  the  enemy,  fire  faster  and  aim 
truer,  till  the  gray  mass  begins  to  sway,  tottering  to  the  right 
and  left  a  moment,  and  then  turning,  a  dense  rabble,  a  mob. 
rush  over,  by  and  through  each  other,  up  the  hill  and  over  the 
fence  into  the  woods.  How  the  boys  did  cheer,  and  many  an 
opportunity  was  given  to  frighten  a  belated  Rebel  as  he  "winged" 
it  for  his  works.  And  some  sport  was  given  the  boys  by  shooting 
at  Rebels  who  in  their  flight  had  sought  shelter  behind  some 
stump,  as  in  the  case  of  Willard. 

This  closed  the  battle  of  Gulp's  Farm,  or  Gulp's  House.  We 
give  below  a  list  of  killed,  wounded  and  missing  in  this  battle, 
the  missing  having  been  taken  prisoners  : 

A — Killed— Charles  Lapoint.  Wounded — Thomas  Hughes. 
Missing — Gorporal  Richard  Durham,  John  Decker. 

B — Wounded — Ira  Durkee.      Missing — B.  F.  Smith. 

C — Wounded' — Edward  Grow,  William  B.  Allen. 

D — Wounded — Lieut.  E.  P.Quinn,  Robt.  McLaughlin,  Geo. 
Sheldon,  J.  D.  Backus.  Missing— Oliver  Smith. 

E — Wounded — Sergt.  Peter  Boushe,  Frank  Archambolt,  E. 
W.  Durling,  Luther  M.  Parke,  Elliot  Burch,  John  Wright, 
wounded  and  missing. 

F — Killed — David  G.  Stewart,  Sergt.  J.  M.  Rowan.  Woun 
ded — Corp.  John  Martin,  John  Scott,  George  Mickle.  Missing 
—Lieut.  Walter  E.  Martin,  Patrick  Malone. 

G — Missing — John  Luddy,  James  Morrissey,  David  Lambert, 
Matthew  Monnegan. 

H — Killed — Peter  McNassar,  Joseph  Kearsing.  Wounded— 

Frank  McFarland,  Patrick  Flynn,  Wm.  Conway.  Missing 

Corp.  Austin  Duel,  William  LI.  Butler,  James  Conway,  Daniel 
R.  Ross,  William  H.  Welch. 

I— Wounded— Sergt.  George  A.  Fairchilds,  Corp.  John  Skel- 
lie,  John  Hover. 


THE    123!)    REGIMENT.  105 

R — Wounded — Sergt.  Fayette  Hale,  Corp.  Horace  Dowd, 
Henry  Watkins,  James  A.  Wright. 

In  this  fight  the  Regiment  lost  forty-eight  men  in  killed, 
wounded  and  missing:  only  eighty-three  men  were  lost  in  the 
entire  Brigade. 

In  relation  to  this  battle  we  take  the  following  from  Schmuck- 
or's  history  of  the  civil  war: 

"Suddenly,  on  the  22d,  the  enemy,  who  were  restive  under 
this  unintermitting  pressure,  rallied  and  attacked  Gen.  Hooker, 
the  blow  falling  chiefly  on  Gen.  Williams'  Division,  and  a  Bri 
gade  of  Schofield's  army.  The  ground  was  quite  open,  and  the 
enemy  easily  drove  in  the  skirmish  lines — an  advanced  regiment 
purposely  thrown  forward  by  Gen.  Schofield  as  a  temporary 
check  to  the  assailants.  Their  point  of  attack  was  evidently  a 
wooded  ridge  running  in  a  southeasterly  direction,  and  diagon 
ally  across  the  front  of  the  Union  lines,  and  which  had  been 
gained  by  Butterfield's  Division  that  morning  after  some  severe 
and  very  determined  fighting.  It  was  occupied,  at  the  moment 
of  the  attack,  by  Williams'  Division  of  the  same  Corps,  who  had 
come  upon  it  about  noon,  but  before  they  had  time  to  fortify  it 
the  Rebels  dashed  out  upon  them  from  the  distant  woods,  mov 
ing  at  the  quickstep,  in  three  lines  of  battle.  The  danger  was 
imminent  ;  but  our  batteries  opened  fiercely  upon  them,  and  as 
they  came  within  short  range,  Williams'  men,  who  had  hitherto 
reserved  their  fire,  delivered  such  rapid  and  deadly  vollies  that 
they  fell  back,  their  confusion  greatly  increased  by  a  sudden  en 
filading  fire,  which  came  from  some  batteries  placed  in  position 
by  Gen.  Geary  of  the  same  Corps.'" 

After  the  battle  the  boys  buried  their  comrades — buried  them 
in  their  army  blue  where  they  fell  fighting  the  foe.  The  boys 
were  thoroughly  exhausted  by  the  incessant  inarching,  exposure 
and  privations  of  a  fifty-nine  days  campaign,  but  feeling  confi 
dent  of  further  success,  they  had  a  disposition  to  endure  and 
dare  more  and  even  greater  trials  for  their  country. 

The  23d  they  lay  behind  the  works.  A  picket  line  was  es 
tablished,  and  a  continual  firing  was  kept  up  on  both  sides. 
Occasionally  the  firing  would  cease  and  the  pickets  would  then 


1O()  KOHXISCKNCKS    OK 

converse  with  each  other,  and  the  boys  from  their  tents  in  camp 
at  night,  when  all  was  quiet,  could  distinctly  hear  them  talk. 
Now  and  then  a  bullet  would  come  singing  over  into  camp. 
Henry  Sartwell,  of  Co.  D,  was  wounded  in  the  arm  by  an  explo 
sive  bullet  fired  from  the  Rebel  picket  line. 

The  line  to  the  left  of  the  Regiment  was  not  as  tar  advanced 
as  the  balance  of  the  line  on  the  right,  and  on  the  2yth  they  ad 
vanced  in  order  to  perfect  the  allignment.  Major  Tanner  was 
the  officer  in  command  of  the  pickets  that  day,  and  in  the 
morning  selected  a  Sergeant  from  the  reserve,  belonging  to  his 
own  company,  with  instructions  to  go  to  the  post  on  the  left  of 
his  line,  which  was  on  a  knoll,  commanding  a  view  of  the  line 
further  to  the  left  which  was  to  be  advanced,  and  when  the 
advancing  line  was  up  and  pushing  forward,  to  give  the  com 
mand  to  forward.  The  Sergeant  obeyed  orders,  but  felt  that  it 
was  sure  death  for  him  to  stand  out  alone  in  face  of  the  enemy 
to  give  this  command.  The  line  to  the  left  advanced,  but  had 
hard  fighting  to  even  get  up  as  far  as  the  balance  of  the  line, 
without  going  beyond.  The  29th  the  Rebels  attacked  the  line, 
and  were  repulsed  with  great  slaughter. 

The  Regiment  lay  quiet  until  Sunday,  July  3d,   when  it  was 
found  the  enemy  had  fallen  back,  and  they  pushed  on  in  pursuit. 


THE     12  3D    REGIMENT. 


10' 


CHAPTER     XVI II. 

IN  CAMP  ON  THE  CHATTAHOOCHIE  RIVER— KESOLUTIONS  ON  THE  DEATH 
OF  COL.  McDOUG ALL— BROKE  CAMP— BATTLE  OF  PEACH  TREE  CKEEK. 

ON  the  morning  of  the  30!  of  July  the  pickets  reported  that 
the  enemy's  intrenchments  were  abandoned.  At  about 
6  o'clock  the  Regiment  started,  passing  through  the  Rebel  works 
which  the}-  found  to  be  very  strong,  consisting  of  a  well  intrench 
ed  skirmish  line,  two  light  lines  behind  it,  and  still  back  of  these 
a  most  elaborate  main  line,  the  parapet  being  ten  feet  wide  on 
top,  with  ditch  and  abattis  in  front.  The  skirmishers  in  ad 
vance  met  with  very  little  opposition,  and  quite  a  number  of 
prisoners  were  taken.  They  pushed  along  slowly  all  day,  and 
bivouacked  just  at  night  in  the  woods.  Nothing  occurred  on 
the  march  the  4th,  but  the  5th  they  reached  a  range  of  hills  on 
the  north  bank  of  the  Chattahoochie,  from  which  the  boys  ob 
tained  their  first  view  of  Atlanta,  the  "gate  city  of  the  South," 
and  there  bivouacked  for  the  night.  The  6th  the  Regiment 
moved  a  short  distance  and  built  breastworks,  and  behind  these 
the  boys  put  up  their  shelter  tents.  Details  for  picket  duty  were 
made  as  usual,  the  picket  line  being  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
river,  while  that  of  the  Rebels  was  on  the  south  bank.  The  yth 
the  heat  was  oppressive  and  the  boys  on  the  picket  line  on  both 


IO8  RKMIXISCKXCES    OF 

sides  of  the  river  indulged  freely  in  bathing.  Finally  some  of 
our  boys  called  out  to  the  Rebel  pickets,  "Ho  !  johnny  Rob  ! 
Do  you  want  to  trade  tobacco  for  coffee  ?"  And  the  answer 
came  back,  "Dog-goned  if  we  don't,  Yanks;  come  over,  we 
won't  shoot."  Two  venturesome  boys,  without  their  blue, 
plunged  into  the  river  with  a  small  bag  of  coffee  in  their  teeth, 
and  were  soon  over  among  the  Rebels,  seated  on  the  bank  of  the 
river  exchanging  their  coffee  for  tobacco,  an  article  which  was 
very  scarce  just  at  that  time  with  the  boys.  After  remaining 
there  awhile  they  swam  back,  carrying  the  tobacco  in  the  same 
way  they  carried  the  coffee. 

The  8th  of  July  the  boys  received  orders  to  lay  out  camp  and 
make  themselves  comfortable.  This  order  was  obeyed  most 
willingly.  Company  streets  were  laid  out,  and  the  grounds 
cleared  of  all  brush  and  stumps,  and  a  very  pleasant  and  hand 
some  camp  was  made.  They  were  kept  busy  until  the  morning 
of  the  loth,  when  orders  came  to  strike  tents  and  get  ready  to 
inarch.  This  order  the  boys  obeyed  without  a  great  deal  of 
grumbling.  They  did  not  march  far,  however,  when  orders 
came  for  them  to  return  to  camp,  and  there  they  remained  until 
the  i yth. 

The  1 5th  of  July  the  officers  of  the  Regiment  met  at  the  tent 
of  Lieutenant-Col.  Rogers,  and  passed  the  following  resolutions 
on  the  death  of  Col.  A.  L.  McDougall: 

WHEBEAS,  In  the  Providence  of  God  our  commanding  officer,  Col.  A.  L.  McDougall, 
has  been  removed  from  us  by  death  from  wounds  received  in  action  at  Dallas,  Ga. 
on  the  25th  day  oi  May,  1804.  As  an  expression  of  our  respect  and  esteem  for  his 
memory  : 

Resolved,  That  we  are  called  upon  to  deplore  in  bis  loss  a  warm  friend,  a  genial 
companion,  a  trusty  counselor,  an  ardent  patriot,  a  warm  soldier  and  skillful  officer. 
At  the  call  of  his  country  he  left  all  the  endearments  of  home,  the  enjoyment  of 
peaceful  life,  and  the  honors  and  profits  of  civil  office  and  a  lucrative  profession,  to 
endure  the  hardships  and  face  the  perils  A'hich  confront  the  soldier  in  the  field,  HIH! 
during  the  time  of  his  service  he  met  them  all  with  a  patient  fortitude  worthy  of  all 
praise,  Struck  down  in  the  midst  of  his  career,  by  the  fortunes  of  war,  while 
leading  his  men  against  the  enemy,  he  endured  the  blow  with  a  cheerful  and  heroic 
resignation. 

Resolved,  That  his  memory  will  be  cherished  among  us  as  one  of  the  most  deserv 
ing  of  that  cloud  of  witnesses  who  have  already  borne  testimony  with  their  lives  to 
the  heroic  resolve  of  the  soldiers  of  the  American  Army,  that  our  national  existence 


THK     I23D     KKG1MKXT.  1 09 

shall  be  preserved,  and  that  the  blessings  of  free  government  and  civil  order  shall 
be  perpetuated  throughout  all  our  borders,  at  whatever  cost  of  blood  or  treasure. 
We  confidently  believe  that  his  example  will  inspire  us  with  fresh  determination 
and  renewed  efforts  in  the  discharge  of  our  duties. 

Resolved,  That  we  tender  to  his  wTife  and  children,  and  other  kindred  our  warmest 
sympathies.  They  have  laid  a  large  offering  upon  the  country's  altar.  They  are 
added  to  that  multitude  of  widows  and  orphans  whose  prayers  and  daily  conversa 
tion  bears  testimony  that  this  war  can  never  cease  until  peace  can  be  established 
upon  the  secure  foundations  ot  a  redeemed  and  regenerated  country. 

Resolved,  That  these  resolutions  be  entered  upon  the  records  of  the  Regiment,  and 
published  in  tae  papers  of  Washington  county,  and  in  the  Albany  Evening  Journal, 
and  that  a  copy  hereof  attested  by  the  Chairman  and  Secretary,  be  sent  to  the  widow 
of  the  deceased. 

JAMES  C.   KOGEES,  Lieut  -Col.  Commanding,  President. 
SETH  C.  CARY,  Secretary. 

These  resolutions  were  sent  to  the  Albany  Journal  for  publica 
tion.  Sunday  morning,  July  iyth,  the  boys  were  called  out 
early  with  orders  to  "-police  up,"  as  Gen.  Hooker  was  to  pay  the 
camp  a  visit.  They  went  to  work  and  made  the  camp  as  neat  as 
brush  brooms  could  make  it.  After  everything  had  been  made 
ready  to  receive  the  general,  another  order  came  which  was  not 
•so  pleasing  to  the  boys,  and  that  was  to  "be  ready  to  move."  At 
about  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  Regiment  moved  out  of 
their  camp,  and  taking  a  northeasterly  direction,  crossed  a  rail 
road  track  just  before  crossing  the  Chattahoochie  river  on  pon 
toon  bridges  near  Vining's  Station,  and  taking  the  same  course 
pushed  on  until  dark  and  bivouacked  for  the  night. 

The  1 8th  the  Regiment  did  not  move  until  about  noon. 
The}'  marched  across  brooks  and  deep  ravines,  over  steep  hills 
and  through  swamps,  and  halted  for  the  night  about  dark. 

The  1 9th  the  Regiment  did  not  move  until  after  sundown, 
when  they  moved  out  of  camp,  striking  the  Atlanta  and  Decatur 
Turnpike,  and  marched  a  few  miles  in  a  northerly  direction,  and 
soon  after  crossing  a  small  creek  bivouacked  for  the  night. 

The  morning  of  the  iyth  dawned  brightly,  and  there  was 
nothing  whatever  to  indicate  the  terrible  ordeal  through  which 
the  Regiment  was  to  pass  before  the  dawning  of  another  day. 
The  Regiment  moved  along  leisurely,  crossing  Peach  Tree 
Creek  on  pontoon  bridges,  and  marched  up  on  to  a  hill,  and 


I  10  REMINISCENCES    (>;•' 

halted,  the  uth  Army  Corps  being  on  their  right  and  the  zd  and 
3d  Divisions  of  the  2Oth  Corps  on  their  left.  The  troops  were 
closed  up,  resting  in  columns,  the  left  of  the  Regiment  being  on 
a  knoll,  the  right  running  down  to  a  ravine.  A  battery  was  also 
nearby,  but  not  unlimbered.  Army  officers  were  seated  on  their 
horses,  and  everything  had  the  appearance  of  a  halt  for  a  rest. 
There  was  firing  on  the  picket  line,  but  nothing  more  than 
usual. 

About  noon  the  boys  were  ordered  to  fall  in,  and  rest  on  their 
arms.  After  remaining  in  this  position  an  hour  or  two,  it  was 
noticed  that  the  firing  on  the  picket  line  was  becoming  more 
frequent;  orderlies  commenced  galloping  here  and  there,  and 
officers  looked  with  anxiety  towards  the  picket  line.  Every  man 
was  on  his  feet  with  musket  clutched  firmly  in  his  hand,  awaiting 
orders.  To  a  private  there  seemed  to  be  no  order  about  the 
arrangement  of  troops,  huddled  together  as  they  were.  Soon  a 
soldier  on  the  picket  line  was  seen  coming  in  on  a  run  without 
his  hat,  then  another  and  another ;  the  firing  sounded  nearer,  the 
officers  on  the  knoll  dispersed,  and  the  order  was  given  for  the 
Regiment  to  forward.  Up  the  hill  and  by  and  through  the 
battery  they  run — every  man  in  his  place,  none  lagging  behind. 
They  \vent  but  a  few  rods  when  the  Rebels  opened  a  hot  fire  on 
them,  and  they  were  just  in  time  to  gain  the  crest  of  a  hill  where 
the  line  was  formed,  and  at  it  they  went.  In  fact,  they  were 
hotly  engaged  before  the  line  was  formed.  Here  the  boys  in 
the  Regiment  stood  without  the  least  protection,  and  drove  the 
Rebels  back  down  the  hill  with  great  loss.  In  front  of  them 
wras  a  heavy  growth  of  timber,  through  which  the  Rebels  had 
attempted  to  advance.  In  the  rear  of  the  Regiment  and  the 
I4ist  New  York  was  an  open  space.  The  I4th  Corps  joined  the 
Hist  New  York,  that  regiment  being  the  extreme  right  of  the 
2Oth  Corps,  the  i23d  being  on  the  left  of  the  i4ist.  In  this 


THE    123!)    REGIMENT.  Ill 

first  charge  the  Rebels  had  pressed  the  extreme  left  of  the  i4th 
Corps  back  just  enough  to  allow  them  to  get  a  cross  fire 
on  the  i4ist  and  the  123(1.  Just  tyack  of  the  i23d  was  an  old 
log  house,  and  as  soon  as  the  Rebels  had  been  repulsed  in  their 
first  charge,  some  of  the  boys  commenced  tearing  it  down  to 
build  breastworks,  while  the  balance  stood  with  their  guns  in 
hand  ready  to  meet  the  Rebels  should  they  charge  again.  The 
boys  had  only  succeeded  in  placing  a  few  logs  and  getting  up 
works  just  about  to  their  knees  when  the  Rebels  came  again  with 
greater  determination  than  ever,  but  the}-  found  the  red  stars 
ready  to  receive  them,  and  this  time  they  were  met  with  grape 
and  canister,  for  the  battery,  which  they  had  passed  in  running 
to  their  position,  had  been  placed  on  the  line  and  did  glorious 
work.  The  boys  loaded  and  fired  with  such  rapidity  that  their 
guns  became  so  heated  that  they  could  not  hold  their  hand  on 
the  barrel.  Corporal  Smith's  gun  went  off  while  he  was  in  the 
act  of  ramming  home  a  cartridge,  and  John  had  to  hunt  around 
and  find  another  ramrod.  How  that  dreadful  cross-fire  from 
the  left  of  the  line  did  take  off  the  men  !  But  again  the  Rebels 
were  driven  back,  but  not  before  many  of  the  boys  had  been 
either  killed  or  wounded.  As  soon  as  the  firing  ceased,  the 
boys  went  to  work  again,  and  after  Herculean  labor  succeeded 
in  getting  up  works,  but  before  they  had  completed  them  the 
Rebels  made  another  charge,  and  this  time  seemed  determined 
to  break  the  line.  Their  yells  could  be  heard  as  they  pressed 
on  :  the  grape  and  canister  from  the  battery  on  the  line  swept 
them  away  as  fast  as  they  came  up,  until  they  finally  broke  and 
run,  unmindful  of  the  commands  of  their  officers  to  stand  firm. 
Night  came  on  with  her  mantle  of  darkness  and  closed  the 
terrible  scene.  The  boys  strengthened  their  works,  and  then 
laid  down  with  their  guns  in  their  hands,  to  await  the  Rebels 
should  they  come  again.  But  everything  is  quiet.  The  moon 
struggles  through  the  clouds  of  smoky  darkness,  and  looks 


1  1  2  REMINISCENCES    OF 

sadly  down  upon  many  an  upturned  face  lying  cold  in  death. 
Gen.  Knipe,  with  Lieutenant-Col.  Rogers  and  others,  was 
standing  near  the  old  log  house,  and  after  one  of  the  Rebel 
charges  had  been  repelled,  Gen.  Knipe  remarked  to  the  Lieut. - 
Col.  as  follows,  concerning  the  1230!:  "Colonel,  the  best  d— d 
regiment  in  my  brigade  !" 


CHAPTER     XIX. 

BATTLE     OF     PEACH    TREE    CREEK    CONTINUED — INCIDENTS — LIST    OF 
KILLED,  WOUNDED  AND  MISSING— SOLDIERS'  SONG. 

AFTER  the  Rebels  had  made  their  last  charge,  Gen.  Knipe 
found  three  soldiers  skulking  behind  trees  in  the  rear  of 
the  Regiment.  He  marched  them  up  to  the  line,  and  after 
making  them  fill  their  cartridge  boxes  from  an  ammunition  box 
near  Co.  A,  he  marched  them  to  the  right  of  the  Regiment  and 
put  them  in  the  front  line,  telling  the  officer  in  command  of  the 
company  to  shoot  them  down  should  they  attempt  to  run. 

After  the  firing  had  ceased,  one  of  the  pickets  from  the  5th 
Connecticut,  who  had  been  wounded,  and  had  remained  out  in 
front  during  all  the  hard  fighting,  crawled  in  on  his  hands  and 
knees,  and  just  behind  him  came  a  Rebel,  who  was  also  wound- 


THE     123D    REGIMENT.  113    - 

eel.  When  the  Connecticut  boy  saw  the  Rebel  he  was  deter 
mined  to  kill  him,  saying  he  was  the  one  who  had  shot  him,  and 
he  certainly  would  have  done  so  had  not  Gen.  Knipe  prevented 
him. 

Ransom  Qua.  was  wounded  in  the  elbow  and  reported  to  his 
captain,  who  ordered  him  to  go  to  the  rear.  He  did  so,  but  in 
a  few  moments  was  seen  coming  back,  and  on  the  captain's  ask 
ing  him  why  he  did  not  stay  in  the  rear,  replied  that  he  thought 
his  wound  would  admit  of  his  fighting  it  out,  and  taking  his 
place  in  the  line,  remained  there  until  the  close  of  the  fight. 
From  the  wound  in  the  elbow  Qua  was  laid  up  some  three  weeks. 

Lieut.  Duane  M.  Hall  was  hit  in  the  heel  with  a  ballet.  It 
injured  him  so  that  he  limped  back  a  few  rods,  and  seating  him 
self  behind  a  stump  pulled  his  boot  off,  and  found  that  though 
the  bullet  had  cut  through  the  leather  and  stocking,  his  foot  was 
only  benumbed,  and  that  there  were  no  bones  broken.  He  has 
tily  pulled  on  his  boot  and  went  back  to  his  company.  Had 
there  been  any  disposition  on  the  part  of  either  of  these  soldiers 
to  have  shirked  duty,  they  could  easily  have  availed  themselves 
of  this  opportunity,  but  the  123(1  Regiment  was  not  composed 
of  shirking  material.  We  knew  of  one  soldier  who  was  making 
his  way  to  the  rear,  and  on  being  asked  where  he  was  wounded, 
replied:  "I  am  not  wounded,  but  I  am  terribly  shattered." 

William  Allen,  of  Co.  C,  after  having  been  given  as  many 
canteens  as  he  could  carry,  went  to  a  spring  of  water  a  short  dis 
tance  to  the  rear  of  the  Regiment,  filled  them  and  was  returning 
to  his  company  when  the  fatal  bullet  hit  him.  He  was  taken  to 
the  hospital,  and  on  asking  the  doctor  if  he  could  recover,  was 
told  that  he  had  but  a  short  time  to  live.  "Well,  here  she 
goes,"  said  William,  and  turning  over  on  his  side  died  soon  after 
without  uttering  another  word . 

Henry  Chapman  enlisted  in  Granville  in  1864,  and  joined  Co. 


114  REMINISCENCES    OF 

I.  He  was  engaged  in  the  battles  of  Resaca,  Dallas,  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  and  received  his  fatal  wound  at  Peach  Tree  Creek, 
the  bullet  entering  his  left  breast.  'On  being  wounded  he  went 
directly  up  to  Capt.  O.  S.  Hall  and  handed  him  his  gun  :  then 
taking  off  his  straps  he  handed  them  to  him,  also,  and  said, 
"Here,  Captain,  I  turn  over  to  you  my  accoutrements.  I  shall 
have  no  further  use  for  them,  for  I  have  fought  my  last  fight — I 
have  finished  my  course.  I  shall  never  see  home  and  loved  ones. 
God  bless  you,  Captain,  and  keep  you  through  to  the  end.  You 
have  been  kind  to  me  and  I  thank  you  for  all;  good  bye."  He 
then  walked  a  few  rods  to  the  rear  and  lay  down,  and  in  less 
than  two  hours  was  dead.  Capt.  Hall  was  very  much  affected 
by  this  incident,  and  will  probably  never  forget  it. 

Among  the  many  who  were  wounded  was  William  Hutton,  Jr.. 
the  color  Sergeant.  We  speak  of  him  particularly  because  he 
was  our  bosom  friend  and  tentmate,  and  well  we  remember  the 
loneliness  of  that  first  night  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  when  there 
was  no  William  to  share  with  us  our  blanket.  During  the  fight 
we  kept  watch  of  the  colors,  and  as  long  as  we  saw  them  waving 
in  their  place  we  knew  that  he  was  there,  but  at  the  end  of  the 
third  desperate  charge  made  by  the  Rebels  we  looked  over  for 
the  colors,  and  seeing  them  leaning  up  against  a  tree,  we  knew 
that  he  was  either  killed  or  wounded.  On  going  to  the  colors, 
we  found  that  not  only  had  he  been  wounded,  but  also  nearly 
every  one  of  the  color  guard.  Corporal  P.  Kinney  and  one  oth 
er  had  the  colors  in  charge.  From  them  we  learned  that  he  had 
been  woimcffid  during  the  heaviest  of  the  fighting  by  that  terrible 
cross-fire.  We  could  not  leave  the  line  to  go  to  him  then,  but 
next  morning  Col.  Rogers  kindly  gave  us  a  pass  to  go  to  the 
field  hospital  in  the  rear,  but  told  us  not  to  be  disappointed  if  we 
could  not  get  through,  as  it  required  a  pass  from  the  command 
ing  general  to  get  to  the  rear.  But  armed  with  this  pass  from 


THE     I  2  ^D    REG1MKNT.  \1$ 

the  Colonel  we  started.  The  first  guard  we  met  was  at  the  pon 
toon  bridge  crossing  Peach  Tree  Creek,  and  as  luck  would  have 
it  we  found  there  a  Dutchman  on  guard.  We  produced  the 
pass,  and  on  being  asked  if  it  was  from  the  general,  told  him  to 
read  it  and  see.  After  looking-  at  it  for  awhile,  turning  it  over 
two  or  three  times,  he  handed  the  pass  back.  We  anxiously 
awaited  his  decision,  knowing  that  if  he  could  read  he  would 
not  let  us  pass,  and  our  delight  can  be  imagined  when  the  guard 
said  to  us,  "Dot  ish  all  right:  pass  on. "  This  we  did  immedi 
ately,  and  found  the  field  hospital  in  due  time. 

In  one  of  the  hospital  tents  we  found  William,  lying  on  the 
ground  with  nothing  under  him  but  his  rubber  and  woolen 
blankets.  We  gathered  leaves  and  branches,  and  made  him  a 
better  bed,  and  we  then  learned  that  the  fetal  bullet  had  entered 
at  the  side  of  the  back  bone,  and  although  the  doctor  had 
probed  for  it,  had  not  succeeded  in  reaching  the  ball.  \Ve 
wrote  his  sister  a  hopeful  letter,  and  at  his  request  told  her  he 
was  slightly  wounded,  and  would  soon  be  home  on  a  furlough. 
On  leaving  him  he  gave  us  a  volume  of  poems  which  we  had 
otten  read  together  in  camp,  saying,  "keep  it.  to  remember  me 
by,  old  comrade,  for  we  may  never  meet  again.  '  (This  volume 
we  now'  have.)  We  promised  to  see  him  next  morning,  and 
went  back  to  the  Regiment.  Agreeable  to  promise,  the  next 
morning  we  started  for  the  hospital,  but  just  before  reaching 
the  tent  where  we  had  left  our  companion  we  saw  several  new 
made  graves,  and  seeing  a  board  at  the  head  of  one  our  curiosity 
led  us  to  stop,  and  we  read,  "William  Hutton,  Jr.,  died  July 
21."  We  could  not  believe  we  had  read  aright,  but  there  it  was, 
"  WILLIAM  HUTTON,  JR..  DIED  JULY  21."  While  standing  there 
over  the  grave  of  one  who  but  so  recently  was  full  of  life  and 
vigor,  and  wondering  if  this  could  be  truly  so,  a  hand  was  laid 
on  our  shoulder,  and  turning  we  saw  "'Dickey''  Terrill,  who  was 


I  I  6  REMINISCENCES    OF 

assisting  at  the  hospital,  standing  by  our  side,  who  told  us  that 
William  had  died  during  the  night,  and  was  buried  that  morn 
ing.  "When  they  told  him  he  could  not  live/'  said  Dickey,  "he 
sent  for  me,  and  wanted  I  should  go  for  you,  Sergeant,  but  it 
was  impossible  for  me  to  leave,  there  were  so  many  wounded  to 
attend  to. "  We  went  back  to  the  Regiment,  feeling  that  we  had 
lost  the  best  friend  we  ever  had.  No  braver  nor  truer  soldier 
fell  in  the  defence  of  his  country  than  William  Hutton.  He  was 
a  splendid  man,  and  of  noble  physique;  a  man  of  strong  will, 
much  firmness  and  tenacity  of  purpose,  and  above  all  an  honest 
man  with  many  virtues.  In  a  little  valley  on  the  banks  of  Peach 
Tree  Creek,  there  he  sleeps  in  a  common  grave  far  from  the 
scenes  of  home — the  soldier's  "sleep  that  knows  no  waking." 
For  many  summers  the  wild  flowers  of  Georgia  have  unfolded 
their  beauties  over  our  dead  comrade,  but  in  the  "bright  morn 
ing  of  the  world's  resurrection"  his  mortal  frame  now  resting 
quietly  on  that  far  off  Georgia  battle  field,  "shall  spring  again 
into  newness  of  life,  and  expand  in  immortal  beauty  in  realms 
beyond  the  skies." 

The  Rebels  did  not  make  another  effort  to  break  the  line  after 
the  third  charge,  and  the  boys  were  not  disturbed. 

The  morning  of  the  2ist  details  were  made  to  bury  the  dead, 
and  a  sad  duty  it  was.  The  12 3d  lost  in  killed,  wounded  and 
missing,  fifty-eight.  The  i4ist  N.  Y.  lost  a  much  larger  num 
ber,  losing  their  Colonel,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Major,  Adjutant, 
Sergeant-Major,  and  some  of  the  companies  were  in  command 
of  Sergeants  after  the  fight,  their  commissioned  officers  being 
either  killed  or  wounded.  The  loss  in  the  2oth  Corps  was  nine 
teen  hundred. 

Capt.  Wiley,  Co.  K,  Capt.  He/iry  Gray,  Co.  G,  Lieut.  Daicey, 
Co.  E,  Adjutant  Carey,  Co.  E,  and  Lieut.  James  Hill,  Co.  G, 
messed  together.  They  took  breakfast  together  about  4  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  2Oth,  and  Capt.  Wiley,  producing  a  bot- 


THE     123D    R  KG  1  ME  NT.  II  f 

tie  of  wine  from  his  valise,  said:  "Here  is  some  wine  which  I 
brought  from  home;  (Capt.  Wiley  returned  with  the  recruiting 
party,  joining  the  Regiment  at  Resaca:)  we  may  never  all  be 
together  again,  so  I  think  we  had  better  drink  it,"  and  they  did 
so.  How  prophetic  were  the  words  of  Captain  Wiley,  for  when 
that  mess  met  together  on  the  night  of  the  2Oth  there  were  but 
two  out  of  the  five  present,  Capt.  Gray  and  Lieut.  Hill.  Wiley 
and  Daicey  had  been  killed,  and  Adjt.  Carey  severely  wounded. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  the  killed,  wounded  and  missing: 

A- — Killed — LeRoy  Wright.  Wounded — Corporal  Joseph  La- 
point.  Missing,  James  Livingston. 

B — Killed — W.  ().  Aikin.  Wounded — Orderly  Sergeant  Jo 
seph  Middleton.  Corporal  James  B.  Taylor,  George  W.  Harring 
ton  .  Missing — -Win.  Martindale. 

C — Killed — Sergeant  William  Hutton,  Jr.,  William  Allen. 
M issing — Frank  Johnson. 

I) — Wounded — Corporal  DeRay  Williamson,  Barney  Shanley. 
Joel  Harvey. 

K — Killed — Lieut.  John  H.  Daicey,  George  Donley.  Woun 
ded — Adjutant  Seth  C.  Gary,  Corporal  Robt.  McEachron,  Alvin 
Gray,  Samuel  Stiles,  Darius  I.  Brown,  Ransom  Qua. 

F — Wounded- — Sergt.  John  R.  McMillan,  Corporal  Russell 
Fullerton,  Corporal  Andrew  H.  McWhorter,  F'benezer  Kinney, 
Taylor  A.  Hopkins,  died  soon  after;  George  H.  Robinson,  Jas. 
M.  Stowe,  Joseph  McMurray,  John  Burns,  Wm.  H.  Smith. 

G — Killed — Henry  Welch.  Wounded — Corp.  Henry  Arnold, 
Clark  Lawton,  Henry  Coulter,  Peter  Cowan.  Missing — Martin 
Bennett. 

H — Killed — Michael  Haley.  Wounded — Henry  Danforth, 
Francis  Brannan,  Chester  Orcutt.  Missing — Crandall  Johnson. 

I — Killed — Henry  Chapman.  Wounded — Corporal  Frederic 
Slocum,  Corporal  Jacob  Herman,  Thomas  Henley,  Geo.  Higby. 
Missing — James  Platt,  Fdward  Kroff,  James  Springer. 

K — Killed — Capt.  Henry  O.  Wile}-.  Wounded — Corporal 
Chaunccy  A.  Guilford,  Thomas  Donahue.  Missing — Corporal 
Henry  Welch,  James  A.  Wright,  Basse!  B.  Pitts,  B.  F.  Wright, 
Samuel  A.  Potter. 

Each  Corps  was  designated  by  a  badge,  made  of  flannel  and 
worn  on  the  cap.  The  arrow  was  the  badge  of  the  I4th  Corps: 


I  lo  REMINISCENCES    OF 

the  triangle,  of  the  4th  ;  the  shield,  of  the  23d  ;  the  cartridge 
box,  of  the  1 5th  ;  the  acorn,  of  the  i4th,  and  the  star  of  the  2Oth, 
the  brigades  being  distinguished  by  the  color.  The  ist  Brigade, 
ist  Division  of  the  2Oth  Corps  wore  the  red  star.  A  soldier 
belonging  to  the  ist  Brigade  wrote  the  following  song,  which  the 
soldiers  were  very  fond  of  singing: 

BONNIE  RED  STAR. 


AIR "BONNIE    BLUE     FLAG. 


Come  listen  comrades,  oiie  and  all,  unto  my  bumble  song, 
It's  short  and  sweet,  and  to  the  point,  and  won't  detain  you  long, 
For  while  we  labor  side  by  side,  all  brothers  in  the  war, 
We  can't  forget  the  honors  of  the  gallant  old  Red  Star. 

CHORUS.— Hurrah !     Hurrah  !     now  comrades  take  your  stand , 

Hurrah  for  the  Bonnie  Red  Star,  the  badge  of  our  command. 

'Twas  on  Virginia's  "  sacred  soil  "  that  it  was  first  displayed, 

And  soon  among  the  Rebel  ranks  a  terror  it  was  made; 

They  knew  lull  well  the  day  was  lost,  when  up  through  smoke  and  roar, 

Came  marching  boldly  to  the  front  the  gallant  old  Red  Star. 

CHORUS.— Hurrah  !     Hurrah  !     &c. 

And  on  Resaca's  bloody  field,  in  Georgia's  fertile  state, 
It  gleamed  amid  the  fire  and  fray  from  early  dawn  till  late  ; 
The  Rebels  felt  its  fury  there,  their  hopes  were  not  at  par, 
And  oh,  they  tremble  as  they  met  the  gallant  old  Red  btar. 

CHORUS.— Hurrah  !     Hurrah  !     &c. 

At  Dallas  and  Kenesaw  its  lustre  bright  was  seen, 
And  many  a  brave  defender  fell  upon  the  crimsoned  green  ; 
But  on  they  pressed,  all  heedless,  too,  of  death  or  frightful  scar, 
While  on  our  caps  we  wore  that  badge,  the  gallant  old  Red  Star. 

CHORUS.— Hurrah !     Hurrah!     &c. 

And  once  again  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  the  bloodiest  fight  of  all, 
Where  valient  men,  like  autumn  leaves,  upon  the  turf  did  fall  ; 
The  '•  Johnnies  "  thought  they'd  played  a  game,  the  biggest  of  the  war, 
By  massing  up  against  the  braves,  who  wore  the  gallant  Star. 

CHORUS.— Hurrah!     Hurrah!     &c. 

'Tis  true  they  took  us  by  surprise,  but  hastily  we  threw 
Our  armaments  upon  our  backs  and  to  the  conflict  Hew  ; 
And  forward  came  the  liebels  fierc".  with  yelJp  that  echoed  far, 
To  terify  the  gallant  lads  who  wore  the  old  Red  Star. 

CHORUS.— Hurrah  !     Hurrah  !     &c, 

But  not  a  veteran  would  yield,  and  standing  man  to  man, 
They  poured  their  deadly  messengers  into  the  Rebels'  van  ; 
They  fought  all  day,  and  won  the  light,  but  not  without  a  scar, 
And  brighter  grew  the  badge  they  wore,  the  faithful  old  Red  Star. 

CHORUS.— Hurrah !     Hurrah!     &c. 

But  comrades,  now,  before  we  part,  let's  drop  a  farwell  tear, 
Unto  the  memory  of  those  whose  faces  a-'e  not  here  ; 
They  sleep  beneath  the  crimson  turf,  and  time  shall  never  mar 
The  glories  which  they  truly  won,  beneath  the  old  Red  Star. 

CHORUS.— Hurrah  1     Hurrah!     &c. 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  I  19 


CHAPTER    XX. 

IX  FRONT  OF  ATLANTA— THE  SIEGE  COMMENCED— ADVANCE  OF  THLI 
PICKET  LINE— THE  REBEL  PICKETS  CAPTURED— DEATH  ON  THE  PICK 
ET  LINE. 

THE  22d,  to  the  surprise  of  all,  it  was  found  that  the  whole 
of  the  enemy's  line  was  abandoned.  An  advance  was 
made,  and  the  Rebels  were  found  occupying  their  first  line  of 
finished  redoubts,  about  one  mile  and  a  half  nearer  to  Atlanta, 
and  which  covered  all  the  roads  leading  to  that  city.  These  re 
doubts  the  Rebels  were  busy  in  connecting  with  curtains  strength 
ened  by  rifle  pits,  abattis  and  chevaux-de-frise.  The  Regiment 
moved  up  and  took  their  position  on  a  ridge  running  north  and 
south  and  parallel  with  the  enemy's  works  in  front.  The  Union 
army  now  occupied  a  line  in  the  general  form  of  a  circle  of 
about  two  miles  radius  around  the  city,  and  some  of  the  troops 
were  fortunate  enough  to  take  possession  of  the  abandoned  works 
of  the  enemy,  which,  as  they  faced  outward,  had  to  be  somewhat 
changed  to  render  them  available  defences  against  the  foe.  "But 
not  so  the  123(1,  they  had  to  go  to  work  and  construct  some  por 
tion  of  their  line.  'The  works  of  the  enemy  were  in  plain  sight, 
and  the  Rebels  could  be  seen  watching  the  movements  of  the 
Yankee  troops.  The  Regiment  commenced  building  breast- 


I2O  REMINISCENCES    OF 

works,  the  Rebel  artillery  in  the  meanwhile  throwing  shell  at 
them,  but  the  boys  kept  steadily  at  work,  the  crashing  of  the 
shells,  if  anything,  only  making  them  work  the  harder.  After 
dark  Battery  "I"''  took  a  position  on  the  line,  and  the  Regiment 
fell  back  a  few  rods  in  rear  of  the  i4ist  N.  Y. ,  and  46th  Penn. 
Along  in  the  night  the  enemy  made  quite  a  demonstration,  firing 
artillery,  etc.  The  boys  stood  ready  to  receive  them  should  they 
come,  but  we  think  they  had  been  sufficiently  amused  at  Peach 
Tree  Creek,  and  thought  it  not  best  to  make  too  many  charges 
against  the  red  stars. 

The  23d  all  was  quiet  along  the  line.  A  line  of  pickets  was 
established  in  front,  and  picketing  here  was  attended  with  a  great 
deal  of  danger,  but  the  boys  dug  for  themselves  pits,  and  by 
placing  logs  and  rails  in  front  of  them  made  it  less  dangerous; 
still  they  were  in  continual  danger  from  the  Rebel  sharpshooters. 

The  night  of  the  24th  our  line  made  a  demonstration,  firing 
artillery,  cheering,  etc.,  in  order  that  the  2cl  Division  might 
move  to  a  position  nearer  the  enemy.  The  entire  line  of  pickets 
also  advanced  a  few  rods,  and  two  or  three  hundred  Rebels 
came  in,  thinking  a  charge  was  being  made  by  the  Yanks.  But 
such  was  not  the  case.  Gen.  Geary  advanced  as  far  as  he  de 
sired,  and  then  threw  up  works. 

The  26th  the  i2^d  Regiment  took  their  position  in  the  front 
line,  relieving  the  6ist  Ohio  Regiment.  The  boys  put  up  their 
tents,  the  company  streets  running  back  from  the  breastworks. 
On  the  right  of  the  Regiment  was  a  deep  ravine,  and  on  a  hill  to 
the  right  of  the  ravine  was  stationed  two  or  three  32  pounders, 
strongly  intrenched. 

The  morning  of  the  2yth  the  2d  Brigade  skirmishers  advanced 
and  burned  a  house  which  had  been  occupied  by  the  Rebel 
sharpshooters,  the  firing  from  which  had  wounded  several  of  their 
pickets.  The  Rebel  picket  line  offered  but  little  resistance,  and 


THE     1231)    REGIMENT.  121 

about  forty  of  them  were  taken  prisoners.      After  destroying  the 
house  the  2cl  Brigade  pickets  fell  back  to  their  old  position. 

The  28th  a  demonstration  was  made  for  the  purpose  of  cover 
ing  a  movement  on  the  right,  at  or  near  Ezra  church.  The 
Rebels  responded  briskly,  throwing  the  shells  over  quite  rapidly, 
but  without  damage.  One  twenty-pound  shell  struck  the  ground 
in  front  of  Co.  C,  and  then  bounded  on  the  works.  How 
the  boys  did  hug  the  earth  !  Fortunately  for  the  company  the 
shell  did  not  explode.  A  shell  also  struck  the  ground  in  front 
of  Co.  H,  and  bounded  on  and  over  the  works  and  struck  in  a 
haversack,  and  it  was  fortunate  for  Co.  H  that  this  shell  did  not 
explode. 

Everything  was  quiet  along  the  line  the  29th,  save  the  firing  of 
the  32  pounders  spoken  of.  Every  ten  minutes,  day  and  night, 
a  shell  was  thrown  into  the  city,  and  at  night  when  everything 
was  quiet,  the  explosion  of  shells  in  the  city  could  be  plainly 
heard. 

Long  before  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  3Oth  of  July  the 
boys  were  called  up.  Stationing  themselves  behind  the  works 
they  awaited  an  important  movement.  Capt.  Geo.  R.  Hall, 
who  was  in  command  of  the  picket  line,  informed  the  pickets 
that  the  line  was  to  be  advanced,  and  instructed  them  to  move 
forward  very  quietly.  Just  before  daylight  they  advanced  as 
cautiously  as  possible,  and  when  near  the  Rebel  pickets,  made  a 
dash  and  captured  nearly  the  entire  line,  the  Rebels  having  no 
time  to  offer  resistance.  Some  escaped  and  carried  the  news  to 
their  camp,  when  the  Rebels  opened  their  batteries  and  rained  a 
perfect  shower  of  shot  and  shell  on  the  advancing  picket  line. 
Our  batteries  also  opened,  and  for  a  time  there  was  a  perfect  roar 
of  artillery.  Capt.  Hall  advanced  his  men  until  checked  by  a 
strong  force,  and  then  fell  back  a  rod  or  two  and  established  his 
line.  He  advanced  so  near  one  Rebel  fort  that  the  boys,  by  fir- 


1  2  2  REMINISCENCES    OF 

ing  through  the  embrasures  at  the  artillerymen,  prevented  the 
guns  being  used,  but  meeting  with  such  strong  opposition,  they 
were  compelled,  as  before  stated,  to  fall  back  a  short  distance. 
Here  the  pickets  commenced  intrenching  themselves,  the  Rebels 
endeavoring  to  drive  them  from  their  position  by  throwing  solid 
shot,  shell,  and  Minie  balls.  About  noon  Captain  Hall  sent 
word  to  headquarters  that  he  must  be  relieved,  as  his  men  had 
been  on  duty  more  than  twenty-four  hours,  and  had  had  nothing 
to  eat  since  the  night  before.  He  sent  this  word  back  two  or 
three  times,  but  it  was  not  until  about  the  middle  of  the  after 
noon  that  he  and  his  men  were  relieved. 

In  this  advance  of  the  picket  line  but  one  man  was  killed,  Al 
bert  Potter,  of  Co.  A.  He  and  Frank  Knapp  were  together, 
firing  at  the  Rebels  on  the  fortifications,  when  the  fatal  bullet 
came,  piercing  the  brain  of  the  brave  soldier,  killing  him  almost 
instantly.  The  stretcher  corps  of  the  Regiment  went  out  and 
brought  in  the  body,  and  they  laid  him  to  rest  in  a  hollow  just 
back  of  his  company.  A  headboard  marked  with  his  name, 
company  and  Regiment  designated  the  spot. 

During  the  night  of  the  3oth  the  boys  on  the  picket  line 
strengthened  their  works,  and  the  315!  the  works  were  finished, 
and  a  strong  line  they  were,  too.  A  ditch  about  four  feet  wide 
and  two  feet  deep  was  dug,  and  the  dirt  thrown  up,  and  on  top 
of  this  was  put  logs  resting  on  blocks.  This  left  a  space  of  two 
or  three  inches  under  the  log  through  which  the  boys  could  fire 
and  have  their  heads  protected  at  the  same  time.  If  a  head  was 
seen  it  was  sure  to  be  fired  at  by  the  Rebels,  and  if  a  Rebel's 
head  was  seen  it  was  just  as  sure  to  be  fired  at.  It  was  very 
dangerous  "relieving"  in  the  day  time,  and  this  was  performed 
only  at  one  place  on  the  line  where  there  was  a  thick  growth  of 
bushes.  At  this  place  the  boys  could  get  into  the  rifle  pit 
without  being  seen  by  the  Rebels,  and  then  go  to  their  places 
on  the  line. 


THE    123D    REGIMENT.  I2J 

August  5th,  the  2(1  Brigade  moved  nearer  to  the  enemy's 
breastworks.  August  8th,  George  Osborne  was  wounded  on  the 
picket  line.  He  unnecessarily  exposed  himself  and  was  hit. 
If  we  remember  correctly,  Osborn  did  not  die  of  this  wound, 
but  died  of  disease  in  North  Carolina. 

At  about  4  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  August  i8th,  the  boys 
were  aroused  from  sound  slumber  by  the  exploding  of  shells  near 
them,  and  it  did  not  take  them  long  to  perform  their  toilet  and 
get  into  the  rifle  pits,  and  some  of  them  thought  the  most 
agreeable  place  to  perform  this  duty  was  where  there  was  less 
danger,  so  grabbed  their  dry  goods  and  run  for  the  works. 
Battery  "I  returned  the  fire,  and  for  a  time  it  was  quite  lively, 
but  the  firing  soon  ceased,  and  all  was  quiet.  The  only  man 
injured  was  an  artilleryman,  who  had  a  leg  shot  off.  James  L. 
Bcaty  of  Co.  H  was  killed  on  the  picket  line.  The  pickets  had 
entered  into  an  agreement  not  to  fire  at  each  other,  but  the 
Rebels  broke  their  promise,  fired,  and  killed  Beaty,  and  Capt. 
George  R.  Hall  and  several  others  had  very  narrow  escapes. 
Beat}'  was  buried  by  his  comrades  in  rear  of  Co.  H,  Chaplain 
White  being  present.  There  was  to  have  been  a  grand  move 
ment  of  the  army  by  the  right  flank,  but  it  was  countermanded 
lor  the  probable  reason  that  the  Rebel  cavalry,  under  Wheeler, 
had  struck  the  Union  lines  of  communication  near  Adairsville. 
This  movement  contemplated  the  withdrawal  southward  of  the 
whole  army  except  the  2oth  Corps,  Gen.  Williams  commanding, 
who  was  to  occupy  the  intrenched  position  at  the  Chattahoochie 
bridge. 

At  about  3  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  i9th  all  the  batteries 
belonging  to  the  2oth  Corps  opened  simultaneously.  The  boys 
had  no  warning  of  this,  and  at  first  did  not  know  whether  the 
Rebels  had  undermined  the  camp  and  blown  it  up,  and  that 
they  were  the  only  ones  who.  had  _  escaped  death,  or  whether 
Sherman  had  blown  up  the  city  of  Atlanta.  They  did  not  re- 


1?4  REMINISCENCES    OF 

main  long  enough  under  their  shelter  tents  to  decide  the  matter, 
but  seizing  their  guns  and  what  wearing  apparel  was  in  reach, 
"streaked  it"  for  the  breastworks.  As  soon  as  they  took  in  the 
situation  they  laughed  heartily  over  their  fright,  and  proceeded  to 
robe  themselves  in  proper  apparel .  From  the  I9th  to  August 
$5th  nothing  occurred  in  or  to  the  Regiment  worthy  of  relating. 


CHAPTER     XXL 

BACK  TO  THE  CHATTAHOOCHIE  RIVER— ATLA.NTA  CAPTURED— THE  123D 
THE  FIRST  TO  ENTER  THE  CITY— THE  TOBACCO  USERS  HAPPY— CAMP 
AND  CAMP  LIFE. 

TN  front  of  Atlanta!  The  wires  flashed  the  news  all  over  the 
loyal  North  that  Sherman  and  his  veterans  had  reached  At 
lanta.  By  degrees,  and  after  marking  every  mountain  pass,  and 
almost  every  mile  with  blood,  the  Rebel  army  had  been  pushed 
back  and  dislodged  from  one  position  and  another,  till  now  they 
had  settled  sullenly  around  the  doomed  city.  The  cautious  and 
able  Rebel  commander,  Johnson,  was  displaced  in  favor  of  the 
madcap  and  brainless  fighter,  Hood,  who,  in  the  language  of  the 
insurgent  chief,  "was  determined  to  strike  one  manly  blow  for 
Atlanta.  "  But  while  the  antagonists  lay  at  bay,  awaiting  the 


THE    1231)    REGIMENT.  125 

opportunity  to  strike  that  "manly  blow,"  Sherman  was  perfecting 
the  details  of  that  splendid  manoeuvre  by  which  the  stronghold 
became  ours. 

At  about  3  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  25th  of  August  the 
boys  were  called  up  with  orders  to  prepare  lor  a  march.  At 
daylight  the}'  filed  out  of  their  works  and  marched  back  to  the 
Chattahoochie  river,  near  a  large  railroad  bridge,  Here  they 
found  one  regiment  from  the  31!  Brigade,  building  breastworks, 
and  now  learned  that  this  was  the  duty  of  the  I23d,  and  they 
were  soon  at  work.  Late  in  the  afternoon  the  entire  Corps  took 
position  in  the  works  which  had  been  constructed  by  the  two 
regiments.  Here  the  Regiment  lay  until  the  2cl  of  September. 

About  2  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  August  3  ist  the  boys  were 
awakened  by  heavy  explosions  in  the  direction  of  Atlanta,  sev 
eral  miles  distant,  followed  by  a  series  of  minor  explosions,  and 
by  what  seemed  rapid  volleys  of  musketry  continuing  for  nearly 
an  hour.  The  boys,  of  course,  thought  there  was  lighting  some 
where,  but  this  was  not  the  case.  About  4  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  September  ist  there  occurred  another  series  of  similar 
detonations,  apparently  nearer. 

The  2cl  of  September  the  Regiment  moved  out  of  their  works 
on  the  Chattahoochie  river  and  made  a  reconnoissance  towards 
Atlanta.  Passing  through  the  picket  line,  but  little  or  no  oppo 
sition  was  met  from  the  Rebel  pickets  and  they  pushed  on, 

THE  FIRST  REGIMENT  TO  ENTER  THE  CITY  OF  ATLANTA the    Rebels 

having  abandoned  the  city  on  the  night  of  September  ist — and 
occupied  the  works  on  the  east  side,  thus  ending  the  justly 
famous  campaign  of  Atlanta. 

It  was  a  proud  day  for  the  soldiers  when  they  camped  in  and 
around  the  city  of  Atlanta,  and  after  their  protracted  manceuvreing, 
marching  and  fighting,  they  were  glad  enough  to  rest  on  the 
glorious  triumphs  they  had  so  long  anticipated  and  so  nobly  won. 


126  REMINISCENCES    OF 

And  how  the  boys  did  rejoice  !  And  how  they  did  revel  in 
cigars  and  tobacco  !  Having  been  without  tobacco  so  long, 
they  were  not  long  in  supplying  themselves  with  this  article.  As 
the  Regiment  marched  through  the  city  to  the  works  on  the  east 
side,  two  or  three  soldiers  from  each  company  dropped  out  of 
the  ranks  and  started  off  on  a  scout,  and  soon  came  to  their 
companies  loaded  down  with  tobacco.  And  what  a  variety  of 
tobacco!  Tobacco  in  plugs  and  papers  for  chewing;  pressed  to 
bacco,  soft  and  hard,  fancy  and  plain  for  smoking,  and  in  fact, 
tobacco  in  every  imaginable  shape.  Some  companies  had  cad 
dies  of  tobacco,  and  every  soldier  who  smoked  laid  away  for  a 
time  his  old  briar  root  pipe  and  smoked  only  cigars. 

The  pickets  were  not  relieved  on  the  morning  of  tlu  2,1,  but 
brought  up  the  rear  in  the  march  intc  Atlanta,  arid  reaching  the 
city  about  dark,  and  a  heavy  rain  setting  in,  they  concluded  to 
seek  shelter  and  remain  over  night.  They  went  into  a  house 
which  was  not  occupied  on  Marietta  street.  This  house  seemed 
to  have  been  in  range  of  the  "Yankee7'  artillery,  for  a  dozen  or 
more  shells  had  passed  clean  through  it.  In  the  morning  the 
pickets  went  out  in  quest  of  tobacco,  also,  and  arrived  at  a  ware 
house  which  had  just  been  broken  into,  and  in  which  was  stored 
the  best  of  tobacco  and  cigars  ready  for  shipping.  Having  laid 
in  a  supply  they  proceeded  to  the  Regiment,  where  they  found 
nearly  every  soldier  smoking  a  cigar.  On  their  way  to  camp 
they  passed  near  the  railroad,  and  there  discovered  the  effect  of 
the  terrible  explosion  and  firing  of  cannon  which  had  disturbed 
their  slumbers  on  the  morning  of  the  3 1  st  of  August.  The  Rebels 
finding  that  Sherman  had  torn  up  the  railroad  so  the}'  could  not 
carry  away  their  artillery  and  ammunition  which  they  had  al 
ready  loaded  on  the  cars,  they  determined  to  destroy  it  rather 
than  let  it  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Yankees.  Between  thirty 
and  forty  cars  loaded  with  the  munitions  of  war  were  destroyed, 


TUP;     1231)    REGIMENT.  127 

besides  five  locomotives.  Five  64-pounders  lay  on  the  ground 
near  the  depot,  spiked.  But  this  is  all  a  matter  of  history.  We 
have  only  to  do  with  the  12 3d  Regiment. 

September  4th,  everything  was  quiet.  No  distant  booming  of 
cannon,  and  the  sharp  ring  of  the  rifle  with  its  deadly  missile  on 
its  mission  of  death  was  not  heard  on  this  beautiful  September 
morning.  Seated  together  in  squads  were  the  soldiers  discussing 
the  campaign  which  had  just  closed.  They  fought  over  again 
the  battles  of  Resaca,  Cassville,  Dallas,  Gulp's  Farm  and  Peach 
Tree  Creek  ;  recounted  the  bravery  of  comrades  who  had  given 
up  their  lives  for  their  country,  and  paid  them  many  glowing 
tributes ;  laughed  together  over  scenes  of  mirth  which  had 
occurred  during  the  four  hundred  mile's  march  of  the  army,  and 
talked  of  the  days  and  nights  spent  in  building  the  four  hundred 
miles  of  breastworks  which  had  been  constructed  by  the  army 
since  the  commencement  of  the  campaign,  and  in  looking  back 
and  calling  up  the  hardships  which  they  had  been  called  to  pass 
through,  it  seemed  to  them  like  a  dream. 

Several  of  the  boys  took  their  meals  at  some  house  in  the  city, 
they  furnishing  to  the  lady  of  the  house  the  rations  they  received 
from  the  Government,  she  cooking  and  preparing  the  same  for  a 
small  compensation — not  that  she  could  prepare  their  meals  better 
than  they  could  themselves,  but  the  great  attraction  was  in  eating 
from  white  plates  and  sitting  at  a  table. 

About  the  8th  of  September  the  Regiment  moved  to  the  left 
of  the  line  of  works,  and  commenced  erecting  quarters.  The 
camp  was  laid  out,  and  with  the  boards  obtained  from  some  torn 
clown  houses  in  the  city,  the  boys  erected  very  neat  and  comfort 
able  quarters,  and  camp  life  was  commenced  again.  Few  can 
realize  the  real  character  of  camp  life,  until  they  have  tried  its 
stern  realities.  At  home,  locks  and  bars  keep  away  many 
intruders,  and  we  lie  down  and  sleep  in  stillness  and  safety.  In 


128  REMINISCENCES    OF 

camp,  the  locks  are  made  of  rope,  and  no  other  means  are 
needed  to  open  their  doors  than  to  untie  a  knot.  At  home  the 
wakeful  cock,  or  speaking  bell  from  the  neighboring  steeple, 
tells  you  of  the  early  dawn,  and  that  the  time  has  come  to  begin 
the  duties  of  the  day.  In  camp,  the  sharp  twang  and  roll  of 
the  martial  drum  starts  one  into  wakefulness. 

Some  of  our  friends  have  said  to  us,  "Tell  us  of  the  camp  and 
how  you  lived  there."  Every  soldier  of  the  old  i23d  Regiment 
knows  what  camp  life  is.  Every  camp  had  or  should  have  had, 
a  parade  ground.  This  forms  the  front.  Beginning  with  this, 
and  going  backwards,  you  have  the  tents  of  the  men,  each  com 
pany  having  their  tents  arranged  in  lines  facing  on  a  street  where 
the  company  forms,  preparatory  to  marching  on  to  the  parade 
ground,  and  where  they  also  meet  for  roll  call,  which  occurs 
three  times  each  day — at  sunrise,  at  sunset,  and  at  8  o'clock  in 
the  evening.  Next  after  the  tents  of  the  men  come  those  of  the 
commissioned  officers  of  the  companies.  These  face  on  a  street 
which  runs  at  right  angles  with  the  company  streets.  In  this 
broad  aisle  the  men  do  their  cooking  and  have  their  company 
fires.  Here  they  meet  of  evenings  to  smoke  and  talk  and  sing. 
Still  back  of  these  are  the  tents  of  the  Colonel  and  staff.  This 
is  composed  of  the  Colonel,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Major,  Adju 
tant,  Quartermaster,  Chaplain  and  Surgeons,  the  tent  of  the  Col 
onel  forming  the  centre.  In  the  rear  of  all  may  be  found  the 
Quartermaster,  Commissary  and  Sutlers'  department. 

When  the  ground  has  been  marked  off,  the  men  proceed  to 
pitch  their  tents,  which,  when  raised  and  spread,  are  fastened  to 
their  places  by  cords  and  stakes,  then  a  shallow  trench  is  usually 
dug  around  each,  to  carry  off  the  water.  When  this  is  done  the 
occupant  gets  some  boards  for  a  floor  if  he  can;  if  this  cannot 
be,  he  uses  the  ground,  on  which  he  makes  a  platform,  spreads 
it  over  with  boughs  of  evergreens  or  straw,  rolls  himself  up  in  his 
blanket  and  sleeps  sweetly,  dreaming,  it  may  be,  of  home  and 


THE    123!)    REGIMENT.  I2Q 

glory.  A  soldier  generally  cooks  his  rations  in  the  open  air. 
Then  sitting  in  his  tent  or  under  the  shade  of  some  neighboring 
tree,  with  his  plate  on  his  lap,  he  enjoys  with  a  soldier's  zest  his 
frugal  meal.  The  signal  for  retiring  is  given  by  the  drum — the 
ever  present  drum.  And  when  the  morning  breaks,  again  the 
roll  of  the  drum  shakes  sleep  from  his  drowsy  eyelids,  and  calls 
him  forth,  with  his  musket  and  his  belt,  to  duty  and  to  drill. 
Each  day  the  colonel  selects  one  officer,  who  is  styled  the  officer 
of  the  clay.  He  is  known  by  his  wearing  his  sash  over  his  shoul 
der,  the  ordinary  way  being  around  the  waist.  He  has  charge  of 
the  guard  and  the  police  of  the  camp.  The  guard  is  detailed  for 
twenty-four  hours  by  the  adjutant,  each  sentry  being  changed 
once  in  two  hours.  The  guard  entirely  surrounds  the  camp,  so 
that  no  one  can  leave  or  come  on  the  ground  without  their  no 
tice  and  permission.  Then  when  a  soldier  retires  to  rest  he  is 
assured  that  these  men  are  camped  round  about  him,  and  that 
they  will  be  faithful,  for  if  found  asleep  at  his  post  the  sentry 
may  be  shot,  or  suffer  such  other  penalty  as  the  court  martial 
may  inflict.  Such  was  the  camp  life  of  our  soldiers,  perhaps 
somewhat  varied  at  Atlanta. 


13O  REMINISCENCES    OF 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

THE  REGIMENT  IN  ATLANTA— REMOVVL  OF  CITIZENS  FROM  THE  CITY- 
ATLANTA  CEMETERY— THE  BOYS  CAST  THEIR  BALLOTS—  FORAGING 
EXPEDITION— THE  GREAT  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA  COMMENCED  -  ARRIVAL 
AT  SOCIAL  CIRCLE  AND  MADISON— THE  CONTRABANDS. 

THE   months  of  August  and   September,    1863,    passed   in 
quiet  while  the  arrtfy  rested  at  Atlanta,    varied  only  by 
drills,  dress  parades,  reviews,  and  the  usual  phases  of  camp  life 
and  duties.      The  boys  enjoyed  themselves  thoroughly  here  ;  they 
gloried  in  the  past,  and  were  confident  of  the  future. 

The  long  trains  of  ambulances  and  wagons  that  bore  the 
Gimilies  from  Atlanta  into  the  Rebel  lines,  seemed  to  contain 
mostly  those  of  the  lower  class.  The  wealthier  families  removed 
from  Atlanta  when  the  firing  began,  those  only  remaining  who 
were  willing  to  take  the  risk  of  shot  and  shell,  and  the  possibility 
of  Sherman's  army  taking  the  city.  Many  of  those  sent  into 
the  Rebel  lines  at  Rough  and  Ready  felt  very  sad  at  being- 
obliged  to  leave  their  homes.  They  had  not  felt  the  war  before, 
except  in  the  cost  of  the  luxuries  of  life.  They  did  not  believe 
the  Yankee  army  would  ever  penetrate  so  far  south,  but  they 
considered  their  removal  one  of  the  necessities  of  the  situation. 


THE     I23D    REGIMENT.  13! 

One  of  Atlanta's  fairest  daughters,  in  conversation  with  the 
writer,  expressed  her  willingness  to  give  her  heart  to  the  keeping 
of  some  good  and  handsome  young  Yankee  officer  or  soldier,  if 
he  would  many  her  and  send  her  North.  We  admitted  possess 
ing  these  necessary  qualifications,  and  were  it  not  for  the  three 
vears  lease  of  our  services  held  by  Uncle  Samuel,  we  would  be 
willing  to  make  her  happy  by  becoming  a  Benedict.  This 
young  lady  was  perhaps  an  exception,  for  as  a  general  thing  the 
ladies  of  Georgia  were  most  bitter  in  their  hatred  of  the  Yan 
kees.  We  give  the  following  verse  from  one  of  their  favorite 
songs,  as  a  specimen  of  several  they  were  in  the  habit  of  singing: 

"  I  wish  I  had  a  butcher  knife. 
I'd  kill  old  Abe  and  steal  his  wife, 
And  I  wish  I  was  to   hum." 

October  3d  the  Regiment  was  ordered  to  go  with  the  Corps 
train  on  a  foraging  expedition.  At  7  o'clock  A.  M.  the  boys  were 
in  line,  and  after  having  put  their  knapsacks  in  wagons  the  order 
was  countermanded.  October  6th,  a  detail  of  one  hundred 
and  ten  men  was  made  to  assist  in  building  a  new  line  of  works 
around  the  city.  October  i6th  about  four  hundred  teams  were 
sent  out  into  the  country  after  forage,  with  a  large  detail  from 
the  5th  Connecticut. 

A  great  mam'  of  the  boys  visited  the  Rebel  cemetery  at  At 
lanta.  About  4,000  Rebel  soldiers  were  buried  there,  repre 
senting  every  state  in  the  South.  Quite  a  number  from  the  2oth 
Corps  died  of  disease  while  in  Atlanta,  are  buried  in  a  remote 
part  of  the  cemetery,  with  the  red,  white  or  blue  star  painted  on 
the  little  headboards.  Charles  Donohue  of  Co.  C,  and  several 
others  are  buried  there. 

October  iSth  the  Regiment  voted  for  President  with  the  fol 
lowing  result : 

Whole  number  of  votes  cast 366 

Abraham    Lincoln    received 336 

Georee  B    McClellau  received...  ..  30 


I  3  2  REMIXISCKXCKS    OF 

October  2ist  the  1231!  Regiment,  with  the  balance  of  the 
Brigade,  accompanied  by  nearly  eight  hundred  wagons,  went 
out  on  a  foraging  expedition  in  the  vicinity  of  Stone  Mountain, 
a  distance  of  about  twenty  miles  from  Atlanta.  They  followed 
the  railroad  east  to  Decatur,  a  small  village  nearly  deserted,  and 
halted  for  dinner  about  one  mile  from  the  village.  Halting  for 
the  niorht,  the  boys  went  out  and  confiscated  live  hogs,  and  hav- 

o         ?  J  O     ' 

ing  plenty  of  sweet  potatoes,  prepared  a  very  good  supper.  The 
night  was  very  cold,  and  the  boys  passed  the  night  in  keeping 
up  large  fires.  The  morning  of  the  22d,  they  commenced 
loading  the  army  wagons  with  corn,  the  wagons  being  driven 
into  the  large  fields,  the  boys  stripping  the  ears  from  the  corn 
stalks  and  throwing  them  into  the  wagons  as  fast  as  the  teams 
could  walk.  The  eight  hundred  wagons  were  nearly  all  filled, 
during  the  day,  and  the  boys  had  time  to  do  a  little  foraging  on 
their  own  hook.  The  morning  of  the  23(1  the  Regiment  started 
for  Atlanta,  and  soon  after  crossing  what  was  called  Snap  Finger 
Creek,  a  rumor  reached  them  that  a  division  of  Rebel  cavalry  was 
between  them  and  Atlanta,  and  would  cut  them  off,  and  the 
troops  were  placed  in  the  best  order  to  guard  the  wagons.  They 
met  with  no  opposition,  and  bivouacked  for  the  night  one  mile 
from  Decatur.  The  morning  of  the  24th  they  pushed  on  for 
Atlanta.  At  Decatur  they  found  troops  that  had  been  sent  out 
from  Atlanta  to  assist  the  foraging  party  had  they  been  attacked. 
The  eight  hundred  wagons  arrived  safe  at  Atlanta  loaded  with 
corn  and  fodder,  and  every  soldier  loaded  down  with  sweet 
potatoes,  fresh  pork,  chickens,  honey,  etc. 

October  26th  another  foraging  expedition  went  out,  and  the 
29th  the  1 2 3d  was  ordered  out  to  meet  them  on  their  return, 
and  assist  them  should  occasion  require. 

From  this  date  there  were  various  rumors  in  regard  to  a  move 
ment  of  the  army,  and  on  November  5th,  when  the  Regiment 


THE     12JJ)    REGIMENT.  133 

broke  cimp  at  about  noon,  with  orders  to  march,  they  felt  con 
fident  that  the  rumors  were  not  without  some  foundation.  The 
Regiment  marehed  about  four  miles  from  the  city  in  a  southerly 
direction,  and  bivouacked  for  the  night  near  an  old  log  house. 
The  next  forenoon  part  of  the  Regiment  was  paid  off,  and  in  the 
afternoon  orders  came  to  march  back  to  their  old  quariers  in  At 
lanta,  where  the  balance  were  paid. 

November  yth  Chaplain  White  left  for  home,  most  of  the  boys 
sending  their  money  home  by  him.  The  Regiment  was  awak 
ened  from  its  slumbers  at  an  early  hour  on  the  morning  of  No 
vember  9th  by  the  firing  of  cannon.  The  order  to  "fall  in''  was 
heard,  and  the  soldiers  were  soon  in  line,  when  they  ascertained 
that  the  Rebels  were  throwing  shells  into  Atlanta.  The  Reg 
iment  and  the  balance  of  the  ist  Brigade  marched  to  the  breast 
works  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  city,  the  2d  Brigade  going  out 
on  a  scout.  They  did  not  return  until  night,  when  the  ist  Bri 
gade  marched  back  to  their  quarters  and  all  was  quiet. 

From  the  preparations  being  made  the  boys  knew  that  they 
were  on  the  eve  of  some  grand  movement,  and  speculation  was 
rife  as  to  what  would  be  the  destination  of  the  army.  Some 
thought  it  was  Savannah,  after  first  taking  and  destroying  Macon 
and  Augusta.  Others  thought  differently,  but  no  private  soldier 
knew.  Neither  did  they  care.  If  Sherman  said  "come,"  that 
was  all  that  was  necessary.  They  went  wherever  he  led  without 
a  murmur.  Some  of  the  troops  commenced  moving  on.  the 
i  2th,  and  the  last  train  of  cars  whirled  rapidly  past  the  troops 
moving  south,  speeding  over  bridges  and  into  the  woods  as  if 
they  feared  they  might  be  left  helpless  in  a  deserted  land.  The 
telegraph  wire  bore  the  last  message  from  Sherman  to  Gen. 
Thomas,  "all  is  well, "  the  wires  were  severed,  and  Sherman  and 
his  grand  army  cut  adrift  from  their  base  of  operations  and  line 
of  communications.  At  davlicrht  on  the  morning  of  November 


134  REMINISCENCES    OF 

1 5th  the  1 23d  marched  out  of  their  works  and  wended  their  way 
towards  Decherd,  and  the  great  March  to  the  Sea  was  com 
menced.  Looking  back  towards  the  city  a  grand  and  awful 
spectacle  was  presented.  It  seemed  to  them  that  the  entire  city- 
was  on  fire.  The  heaven  was  one  expanse  of  black,  curling 
smoke;  the  air  was  filled  with  burning,  flying  cinders.  By  or 
der,  the  chief  engineer  destroyed  by  powder  and  fire  all  the  store 
houses,  depot  buildings  and  machine  shops.  Buildings  covering 
two  hundred  acres  were  in  flames. 

The  Regiment  reached  Decherd  about  noon  and  there  halted 
for  dinner.  After  an  hour's  rest  they  pushed  on,  marching  along 
a  road  through  a  dense  wood,  and  came  in  sight  of  Stone  Moun 
tain,  and  bivouacked  to  the  right  of  it.  This  mountain  is  a  sol 
id  mass  of  rocks,  with  only  here  and  there  a  shrub.  The  Reg 
iment  made  about  fifteen  miles. 

We  will  here  say  that  the  12 3d  belonged  to  the  left  wing  of 
the  army  which  \vas  called  the  army  of  Georgia,  and  contained 
two  corps,  the  i4th  and  2oth. 

Being  guard  for  the  train,  the  Regiment  did  not  break  camp 
until  about  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  i6th.  There  were 
from  four  to  six  soldiers  to  each  wagon.  They  marched  about 
fifteen  miles,  and  went  into  camp  about  n  o'clock  at  night. 
The  iyth  they  marched  about  twenty  miles  over  a  rolling  coun 
try  and  went  into  camp.  November  i8th  the  Regiment  reached 
Social  Circle  about  noon,  and  halted  to  rest  and  make  coffee. 
Social  Circle  was  a  very  pretty  little  village,  and  it  was  here  the 
colored  people  commenced  following  the  army.  Not  all  the 
colored  people,  of  course,  at  Social  Circle  joined  the  army,  but  a 
great  many.  They  lined  the  walks  on  each  side  of  the  streets  as 
the  Regiment  passed  through,  exclaiming,  "  Bress  de  Lord,  dat 
good  day  am  come  !  De  Yanks  is  come  !  De  day  ob  jubilee 
hab  arribed  !  " 


THE    123!)    REGIMENT.  135 

The  Regiment  made  an  early  start  the  lyth,  and  reached 
Madison  about  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Madison  is  another 
pretty  village,  and  resembles  some  pretty  Northern  village  very 
much.  Quite  a  number  of  the  residences  were  surrounded  by 
beautiful  flower  gardens  and  hedges.  The  Brigade  band  played 
a  lively  air  as  they  marched  through  the  village,  the  colored  peo 
ple  flocked  at  every  corner,  and  seemed  fairly  wild  with  delight. 
"Bress  de  Lord  !"  could  be  heard  on  all  sides.  A  good  many 
colored  people  from  Madison  followed  the  army.  Marching  on 
the  Regiment  bivouacked  about  live  miles  from  the  village,  hav 
ing  made  about  fifteen  miles. 

A  day's  inarch  varied  according  to  the  country  to  be  traveled, 
or  the  opposition  to  be  encountered.  If  a  battle  was  anticipated 
the  train  was  shifted  to  the  rear  of  the  centre,  and  under  any  cir 
cumstances  the  troops  having  the  lead  moved  unencumbered, 
and  in  close  fighting  trim.  In  the  rear  of  each  regiment  fol 
lowed  the  pack  mules,  laden  with  every  kind  of  camp  baggage, 
including  blankets,  pots,  pans,  kettles,  and  all  the  kitchen  ware 
needed  for  cooking.  Here  would  -be  found  the  led  horses,  and 
with  them  the  negro  servants.  Every  company  in  the  12 3d 
Regiment  had  two  or  three  of  these  pack  mules,  and  colored 
men  to  "lead  them,  and  these  colored  men  were  also  good  for 
agers.  Two  Sergeants  in  Co.  C  picked  up  a  colored  man  at 
Madison,  who  wished  to  cast  his  lot  with  Sherman's  army.  The 
very  next  day  he  '  'confiscated'''  a  good  horse,  and  the  Sergeants 
transferred  their  heavy  knapsacks,  tents  and  blankets,  pots,  ket 
tles,  frying  pan,  coffee  pot,  etc.,  to  the  back  of  the  horse.  At 
night  Jack,  the  name  of  the  colored  man,  came  in  with  plenty 
of  sweet  potatoes,  fresh  pork,  etc.,  and  fodder  for  his  "mool"  as 
he  called  him.  Unloading  the  "mool,"  he  tied  him  to  a  stake, 
built  a  fire,  procured  water  and  put  up  the  tents.  He  said  he 
was  going  to  get  a  cook  next  day,  and  sure  enough,  next  'night 


136  REMINISCENCES    OF 

he  brought  in  two  colored  girls,  one  of  them  a  house  servant, 
who  was  quite  aristocratic,  the  other  a  field  hand,  who  did  not 
know  enough  to  go  into  her  tent  when  it  rained.  These  two 
Sergeants  had  an  easy  time  of  it  all  the  way  to  Savannah.  When 
the  Regiment  halted  for  the  night,  Jack  was  always  near  at  hand 
with  his  pack  mule  and  the  girls.  After  unloading  the  "mool" 
and  tying  him  to  a  stake  or  a  tree,  he  would  go  and  fill  his  can 
teens  with  water ;  the  house  servant,  who  did  the  cooking,  would 
get  out  the  kettles  and  pans,  and  commence  preparing  the  even 
ing  meal  ;  the  other  colored  girl  in  the  meantime  would  |pe  after 
wood  for  a  fire.  As  soon  as  Jack  returned  with  his  canteens  the 
fire  would  be  going  nicely,  the  fresh  pork  would  be  ready  for 
frying,  and  the  sweet  potatoes  ready  for  boiling,  and  while  sup 
per  was  being  prepared,  Jack  would  put  up  the  three  tents,  one 
for  the  Sergeants,  one  for  the  girls  and  one  for  himself,  all  facing 
the  fire.  The  Sergeants  during  this  time  would  be  stretched  on 
the  ground,  taking  a  "solid  rest,"  until  the  "Come,  Massa  Mo- 
rey  and  Dick,  you  hash  am  ready,  "  was  heard,  and  with  a  sol 
diers  appetite  the  fresh  pork,  hard  tack  and  sweet  potatoes 
would  soon  disappear. 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  1.37 


CHAPTER  XXI11. 

FROM  ATLANTA  TO  THE  SEA  CONTINUED— MILLEDGEVILLE— DESTROY 
ING  RMLttOAD— WHEELER'S  CAVALRY— SKIRMISHING— SANDERSVILLE 
—THANKSGIVING  DAY— THE  PRISON  PEN  AT  MILLEN. 

NOVEMBER  2oth  found  the  roads  in  a  wretched  condition, 
which  gave  employment  to  the  pioneers,  and  a  busy 
time  they  had,  too,  for  all  ugly  places  in  the  road  had  to  be 
"corduroyed"  at  once,  before  the  wagons  could  pass.  The  pio 
neers,  who  always  followed  the  advance  guard,  would  quickly 
tear  down  a  fence  near  by  and  bridge  over  the  treacherous  place, 
sometimes  at  the  rate  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  fifteen  minutes. 
If  rails  were  not  near,  pine  saplings  and  split  logs  supplied  their 
places.  During  this  temporary  halt  the  boys  would  drop  out  of 
line  by  the  roadside,  lying  upon  their  backs,  supported  by  their 
knapsacks.  These  short  halts  were  of  great  benefit  to  the  boys; 
they  gained  a  breathing  spell,  and  had  a  chance  to  wipe  the  per 
spiration  from  their  brows.  The  guerillas  appeared  on  the  2Oth, 
the  first  the  Regiment  had  been  troubled  with.  But  little  pro 
gress  was  made,  and  they  bivouacked  for  the  night  at  about  1 2 
o'clock,  having  marched  some  twelve  miles. 

At  about  9  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  2ist,  the  Regiment 
took  up  its  line  of  march  in  a  rain.  The  roads  were,  if  possible, 
in  a  much  worse  condition  than  the  day  before.  They  marched 


138  REMINISCENCES    OF 

through  Eatonton,  a  small  village,  and  after  a  fatiguing  and  cold 
march  camped  for  the  night  at  Gerard's  Cross  Roads,  having 
made  but  eight  miles.  Nothing  of  importance  occurred  on  the 
march  the  2ist.  When  the  day's  march  was  nearly  finished, 
officers  rode  on  in  advance  to  select  the  ground  for  each  brigade, 
giving  the  preference  to  slopes  in  the  vicinity  of  wood  and  water. 
Then  the  troops  filed  out  into  the  roads  and  fields,  the  troops 
leading  pitching  tents  first ;  those  in  the  rear  marched  on  still 
further,  ready  to  take  their  turn  in  the  advance  next  day.  As 
soon  as  the  guns  were  stacked,  how  the  boys  would  "go  for" 
the  fences  and  rail  piles!  and  with  incredible  swiftness  little 
shelter  tents  would  spring  up  all  over  the  ground.  After  supper 
would  be  heard  the  music  of  dancing  or  singing.  Some  of  the 
boys  had  confiscated  a  large  accordeon,  and  as  soon  as  the  music 
of  this  instrument  was  heard  playing  a  jig,  the  colored  boys 
would  gather  around,  and  commence  dancing, — happy  as  larks 
in  their  freedom.  While  one  would  be  dancing,  the  others 
would  stand  around,  and  such  exclamations  as  "Broke  'em 
down  dar,  Pete!''  "Froyersef!"  "Kie,  dar,  bully!  bully!" 
could  be  heard  from  the  excited,  happy  colored  men. 

The  22d  the  roads  were  in  a  much  better  condition,  and  they 
entered  Milledgeville,  the  capitol  of  Georgia,  about  dark,  and 
bivouacked  for  the  night  in  the  outskirts  of  the  place. 

The  23d  the  Regiment  with  other  troops,  were  engaged  in 
destroying  the  track  of  the  Georgia  Central  railroad,  the  depot, 
the  State's  prison,  in  which  was  found  several  soldiers  \vho  had 
been  taken  prisoners  and  confined  there.  These  were  liberated, 
besides  several  convicts  wrho  were  incarcerated  there.  The  mag 
azines,  arsenals,  factories  of  various  kinds,  with  storehouses  con 
taining  large  amounts  of  Government  property,  with  about  sev 
enteen  hundred  bales  of  cotton,  were  burned.  Private  houses 
were  respected  everywhere. 


THE   I23D    REGIMENT.  139 

The  24th  the  Regiment  left  Milledgeville  at  daylight  and  went 
into  camp  at  sundown,  having  marched  about  seventeen  miles 
without  any  serious  mishaps  or  incidents  worthy  of  relating. 

The  march  on  the  25th  was  somewhat  impeded  by  the  absence 
of  a  bridge  across  Buffalo  Creek,  which  the  Rebel  cavalry  under 
Wheeler  had  destroyed.  They  were  delayed  but  a  few  hours. 
After  crossing,  the  cavalry  made  a  dash  on  the  advance  guard 
and  pioneers.  The  Regiment  pushed  forward  on  the  "double- 
quick,"''  and  the  Rebels  retreated.  Four  or  five  Rebels  were  cap 
tured.  There  was  but  little  firing,  and  no  one  in  the  Regiment 
killed  or  wounded.  The  Regiment  bivouacked  for  the  night  in 
line  of  battle. 

The  26th  the  Rebel  cavalry  contested  the  road  into  Sanders- 
ville.  The  ist  Brigade  had  the  advance  of  the  Corps  ;  one  reg 
iment  was  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and  the  other  regiments,  in 
cluding  the  1 23d,  formed  in  line  of  battle  on  either  side  of  the 
road.  The  movement  was  executed  in  the  handsomest  manner, 
and  was  so  effectual  as  not  to  impede  the  march  of  the  column 
in  the  slightest  degree,  although  the  roll  of  musketry  was  un 
ceasing.  The  loss  to  the  Brigade  was  about  twenty,  killed  and 
wounded,  but  fortunately  the  1236.  escaped.  The  loss  to  the 
Rebels  must  have  been  more  than  double  that  number,  for  many 
dead  Rebels  were  seen  along  the  streets  of  the  village.  Two  or 
three  were  killed  on  the  steps  of  the  church.  The  Regiment 
bivouacked  for  the  night  in  or  near  the  village. 

The  2yth  the  Regiment  left  at  daylight,  traveling  in  an  easter 
ly  direction  through  a  very  poor  looking  country.  Crossing  the 
Magache  river  they  camped  for  the  night  near  Davisborough 
Station,  on  the  Georgia  Central  Railroad,  having  marched  about 
fifteen  miles. 

The  28th  the  I23d,  together  with  other  troops  from  the  Divi 
sion,  was  engaged  in  destroying  the  railroad.  They  started 


I4O  REMINISCENCES    OF 

from  Davisborough  Station  and  marched  along  the  track,  tearing 
it  up  as  they  went.  Reaching  Key  West  Station  they  destroyed 
the  depot,  arid  pushed  on,  tearing  up  the  track  to  Spier's  Station 
and  bivouacked  for  the  night,  having  made  about  twelve  miles, 
and  destroyed  about  the  same  number  of  miles  of  railroad.  The 
boys  were  divided  into  three  parties.  The  first  party  turning 
the  ties,  sleepers  and  rails  over.  Twenty  or  more  men  would 
lay  hold  of  the  ties  and  lift  them  up  and  turn  them  completely 
over.  The  squad  following  would  pile  the  ties  up  and  place  on 
top  of  the  pile  the  iron  rails.  The  third  squad  followed  on  with 
hatchets  and  matches,  and  set  fire  to  the  wooden  ties,  and  the 
iron  rails  becoming  heated  in  the  flames  would  bend  by  their 
own  weight.  Sometimes  six  or  eight  men  would  seize  a  rail 
which  had  became  heated  and  twist  it  around  a  tree.  Some  of 
the  men  had  wrenches,  and  when  a  rail  was  sufficiently  heated, 
it  would  be  taken  off  by  these  wrenches  fitting  closely  over  the 
ends,  and  by  turning  in  opposite  directions,  the  rail  was  so 
twisted  that  even  a  rolling  machine  could  not  bring  it  back  into 
shape.  In  this  manner  the  Georgia  Central  railroad  was  de 
stroyed,  as  was  also  twenty-five  or  thirty  miles  of  rails  which  lay 
in  Atlanta,  and  all  on  the  Augusta  and  Atlanta  road  from  the 
last  named  place  to  Madison. 

The  28th,  being  Thanksgiving  day,  was  very  generally  ob 
served  by  the  boys.  Chickens,  turkeys,  vegetables,  etc.,  were  at 
hand,  and  the  soldiers  gave  thanks  as  soldiers  could,  and  were 
as  merry  as  only  soldiers  could  be.  The  boys  had  reached  the 
sand  regions,  so  that  the  fall  of  rain  had  no  terror  to  them,  only 
as  it  inconvenienced  them  in  preparing  their  coffee. 

The  2 9th  the  12 3d  was  engaged  in  destroying  the  railroad  and 
also  destroyed  a  steam  saw  mill,  and  large  piles  of  bridge  and 
railroad  timber. 

The  3Oth  the  Regiment  was  not  on  the  railroad,  but  their 
march  was  through  magnificent  pine  woods.  The  pines  were 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  141 

destitute  of  branches,  and  towered  to  a  height  of  eighty  or  nine 
ty  feet,  their  tops  being  crowned  with  tufts  of  pure  green.  The 
Regiment  halted  for  dinner  on  a  large  rice  plantation.  Pushing 
on,  they  crossed  the  Ogeechee  river,  and  bivouacked  for  the 
night  in  a  large  field,  some  three  or  four  miles  from  Linnville. 
Thousands  of  colored  people  joined  the  columns  every  day, 
many  of  the  women  carrying  children  in  their  arms,  while  older 
boys  and  girls  plodded  by  their  side.  All  were  ordered  back, 
but  some,  and  a  good  many,  too,  kept  along  with  the  army. 

The  morning  of  December  2d  dawned  warm  and  pleasant, 
and  their  line  of  march  was  down  between  the  Savannah  and  the 
Ogeechee  rivers,  through  dismal  swamps  and  over  wretched 
roads,  being  obliged  sometimes  to  build  corduroy  roads  so  that 
the  trains  could  pass.  Being  guard  for  the  train  the  Regiment 
did  not  march  over  six  miles. 

They  made  an  early  start  December  2d,  and  after  marching 
about  sixteen  miles  bivouacked  for  the  night. 

At  an  early  hour  December  3d  the  Regiment  filed  out  on  the 
road  and  commenced  their  day's  march,  and  halted  for  dinner 
about  three  miles  from  the  village  of  Millen,  and  near  the  Rebel 
prison  pen,  used  by  the  enemy  for  the  confinement  of  Federal 
soldiers  who  had  become  prisoners  of  war.  It  was  situated  about 
eighty  miles  north  of  Savannah,  in  a  country  where  pine  forests 
abound.  About  forty  acres  of  ground  inclosed  by  a  stockade, 
without  any  covering  whatever,  was  the  hole  where  thousands  of 
our  brave  soldiers  had  been  confined  for  months,  exposed  to 
heavy  dews,  biting  frosts  and  pelting  rains,  without  so  much  as 
a  board  or  a  tent  to  protect  them.  The  boys  saw  where  some  of 
the  poor  fellows  had  adopted  the  wretched  alternative  of  digging 
holes  in  the  ground,  into  which  they  had  crept  at  times.  What 
wonder  that  they  found  the  evidence  that  over  seven  hundred 
had  died  there,  and  could  a  voice  have  been  given  to  those  silent 
graves,  and  they  have  become  witnesses  of  what  they  had  seen 


142  REMINISCENCES    OF 

and  heard,  what  revelations  would  have  been  made  of  things  that 
can  never  be  known  now.  Leaving  Millen  to  their  right  the 
Regiment  pushed  on,  and  after  marching  about  eighteen  miles 
bivouacked  for  the  night. 

December  4th  the  Regiment  made  an  early  start,  and  after 
marching  two  or  three  miles  filed  out  of  the  marching  column  at 
a  point  where  it  was  expected  the  Rebel  cavalry  would  make  a 
dash  on  the  wagon  train.  Here  they  waited  until  the  train  had 
nearly  passed  when  they  pushed  on,  reaching  the  Brigade  at  dark 
and  camped,  after  having  marched  some  fifteen  miles.  The 
country  through  which  they  marched  was  of  a  low,  swampy  na 
ture,  the  principal  product  being  water  melons.  The  buildings 
of  a  large  plantation  were  seen  on  fire,  and  on  a  near  approach 
the  cause  was  discovered  in  the  dooryard  in  the  shape  of  several 
dead  bloodhounds.  The  soldiers  were  determined  that  no  more 
flying  fugitives,  white  or  colored,  should  be  followed  by  hounds 
that  came  within  reach  of  their  powder  and  ball.  Wherever  the 
boys  marched  everything  in  the  shape  of  a  dog  was  immediately 
shot. 

December  5th  the  Regiment  did  not  move  until  sundown, 
being  guard  for  the  wagon  train.  The  roads  were  in  such  a  con 
dition  that  they  did  not  march  over  four  miles,  halting  for  the 
night  after  midnight. 

The  Regiment  made  an  early  start  on  the  morning  of  Decem 
ber  6th,  and  marched  all  day  parallel  with  and  about  five  miles 
from  the  Savannah  river,  and  after  marching  about  fifteen  miles 
bivouacked  for  the  night. 


THE     I23J)    REGIMENT.  143 


CHAFFER  XXIV. 

THE  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA  CONTINUED— FORAGING— ROYAL    DINNER— SKIR 
MISH—ARRIVAL  IN  FRONT  OF  SAVANNAH— PROVISIONS  SCAECE. 

T1HE  men  who  had  been  detailed  to  forage  for  the  Regiment 
did  not  succeed  in  bringing  in  enough  supplies,  so  on  the 
7th  of  December  about  one  hundred  men,  in  charge  of  a  com 
missioned  and  a  non-commissioned  officer,  were  sent  out.  Strik 
ing  off  to  the  left  of  the  line  of  march  some  two  or  three  miles, 
they  struck  a  road  running  parallel  with  the  moving  column, 
and  after  marching  about  five  miles  on  this  road  they  came  to  a 
plantation,  and  singular  though  it  may  be  to  relate,  not  a  "bum 
mer"  had  been  there.  Here  they  found  fresh  pork  in  abun 
dance,  and  many  a  fine  porker  fell  under  the  bullets  of  the  sol 
diers.  One  of  the  men  went  into  the  kitchen  or  cook  house, 
which,  like  all  cook  houses  on  a  plantation,  was  situated  a  few 
feet  from  the  main  buildings,  and  to  his  surprise  and  delight  saw 
hanging  from  the  crane  in  the  fireplace  a  large  kettle,  and  from 
the  odor  he  concluded  it  was  a  boiled  dinner  which  was  in  prep 
aration.  Seizing  a  six  quart  pan  which  lay  on  the  table,  he 
raised  the  cover  from  the  kettle  with  a  large  fork,  and  what  vis 
ions  of  boiling  pork  and  cabbage  met  his  gaze  !  It  was  the 
work  of  a  few  moments  to  fill  his  pan  half  full  with  cabbage  and 
pork,  and  he  was  none  too  soon,  for  in  rushed  several  hungry 


144  REMINISCENCES    OF 

soldiers,  and  the  scrabble  for  what  was  left  of  the  hot  cabbage 
and  pork  was  laughable  to  witness.  The  fortunate  soldier  who 
first  made  the  discovery  left  with  his  feast  by  another  door,  and 
going  into  the  yard  placed  his  pan  on  an  old  work  bench,  and 
fixing  his  bayonet  on  his  gun  for  self  defence,  made  ready  to  en 
joy  a  good,  square  meal.  He  CLEANED  THE  PAN,  but  it  came 
very  near  cleaning  him  out,  for  not  being  used  to  this  kind  of 
food,  it  made  him  very  sick .  Besides  fresh  pork,  sweet  potatoes, 
etc. ,  found  on  this  plantation,  the  boys  filled  their  canteens  with 
a  delicious  syrup  made  from  sorghum,  which  was  cultivated  on 
nearly  all  the  plantations,  and  on  this  one  was  stored  away  in 
large  troughs.  After  each  man  had  provided  himself  with  all  he 
could  conveniently  carry,  they  took  up  their  march  for  the  Reg 
iment.  Marching  along  a  very  pleasant  road  through  a  dense 
wood  they  came  upon  a  large  mansion,  situated  very  pleasantly, 
and  surrounded  by  beautiful  grounds.  In  front  of  this  mansion 
the  boys  halted  to  rest,  and  the  officers  paid  a  visit  to  the  house. 
They  were  met  at  the  door  by  three  women — an  elderly  lady  and 
her  two  daughters — who  were  weeping  bitterly,  and  on  inquiring 
the  cause,  the  officers  were  conducted  into  the  house,  and  were 
there  shown  a  scene  of  shocking  confusion;  articles  of  furniture, 
soiled  and  broken,  were  strewn  about  the  floor;  bureau  drawers 
had  been  pulled  out  and  their  contents  scattered  around;  trunks 
had  been  broken  into,  and  household  utensils  shattered  into 
pieces  beyond  the  mender's  art.  "This  is  the  third  time  our 
house  has  been  ransacked,  "  said  one  of  the  ladies,  "and  I  ad 
mit  our  soldiers  are  just  as  bad  as  the  Yankees.  I  can  see  no 
difference.  They  have  thrown  our  things  around  like  this  in 
hopes  of  finding  watches  or  silver.  My  husband  is  in  the  Con 
federate  army,  and  I  expect  you  will  take  all  you  want  for  your 
selves  and  horses,  but  to  come  in  and  ruthlessly  destroy  things  in 
this  way  is  too  bad,  "  and  with  fresh  tears  and  sobs  she  sat  down. 
The  officers  told  the  ladies  that  in  both  armies  there  were  a  great 


THE     I23D    REGIMENT.  145 

many  soldiers  who  were  not  gentlemen  at  home,  for  certainly  no 
gentleman  in  the  Union  army  would  thus  enter  a  house,  and  in 
the  presence  of  ladies  destroy  property  for  the  mere  hope  of 
finding  a  little  silver.  One  of  the  young  ladies  said,  "yes,  and 
a  Yankee  soldier  took  one  of  our  skirts  this  morning,  and  tying 
it  together  at  the  top  filled  it  with  nasty  potatoes  and  toted  it 
off."  The  officers,  after  a  few  consoling  remarks,  bowed  them 
selves  out,  joined  the  boys  and  pushed  on,  striking  the  Regiment 
late  in  the  afternoon.  The  Regiment  made  about  fifteen  miles 
and  bivouacked  in  the  woods. 

December  8th  the  Regiment  filed  out  into  the  road  at 
daylight,  as  guard  for  the  ammunition  train.  The  Division 
marched  about  seven  miles  on  a  wrong  road.  After  marching 
about  eighteen  miles  the  Regiment  bivouacked  within  sixteen 
miles  of  Savannah. 

December  9th  the  Regiment  did  not  move  until  eight  o'clock 
in  the  morning.  The  boys  were  inarching  along,  joking,  laugh 
ing  ami  singing  as  usual,  when  all  at  once  a  shell  exploded 
directly  over  their  heads.  If  ever  soldiers  were  surprised  it  was 
the  boys  of  the  12 3d  Regiment,  about  noon  on  the  9th  of  De 
cember,  1864.  The  Regiment  led  the  Corps  on  this  day's  march, 
and  the}'  had  no  warning  that  the  Rebels  were  in  front.  They 
halted  without  the  word  of  command  for  once.  Several  shells 
were  thrown  over,  but  no  one  was  injured.  Soon  Gen.  Williams 
and  staff  came  dashing  up.  The  zd  Brigade  was  sent  to  the 
right  and  the  3d  Brigade  to  the  left,  and  the  ist  Brigade  formed 
in  line  of  battle  in  front.  Soon  after  the  order  was  given  to 
advance.  The  cheering  from  the  other  brigades  could  be  heard 
as  they  moved  forward  on  the  flanks.  On  either  side  of  the 
road  in  front,  the  position  occupied  by  the  ist  Brigade,  it  wras 
swampy,  and  as  the  brigade  advanced  the  12  3d  Regiment  had  to 
wade  in  water,  the  Rebels  in  the  meantime  firing  shell  and 


146  REMINISCENCES    OF 

pouring  in  Minie  balls  at  a  terrific  rate.  In  the  advance,  a 
soldier  by  the  name  of  Barrett,  belonging  to  the  Whitehall 
company,  was  hit  by  a  bullet  in  the  head,  the  ball  just  grazing 
the  skull.  When  hit  he  was  standing  in  the  water  nearly  up  to 
his  knees.  The  bullet  knocked  his  hat  off.  He  remained  quiet 
for  a  moment  or  two,  and  then  commenced  swearing,  saying  he 
"could  lick  the  Rebel  that  fired  that  bullet."  His  companions 
yelled  to  him  to  come  on,  but  he  did  not  stir,  and  kept  shaking 
his  fist  in  the  direction  of  the  Rebels,  daring  them  to  come  and 
tackle  him.  Some  of  the  boys  took  him  by  the  arm  and  he 
went  along,  swearing  vengeance  on  the  Rebel  who  fired  that 
shot.  The  hit  on  the  head  seemed  to  make  him  crazy  for  a  lit 
tle  while.  Pushing  on  through  the  swamp  the  Regiment  soon 
came  to  the  fort,  but  the  birds  had  flown,  as  usual.  The  Rebels 
had  built  two  small  forts  on  the  edge  of  a  swamp,  and  blockaded 
the  road  with  fallen  trees,  but  in  about  one  hour  from  the  time 
the  first  shell  came  hissing  over  the  Regiment,  the  Rebels  were 
fleeing  to  Savannah.  Hats,  guns,  etc.,  were  scattered  along  the 
road,  a  sure  indication  that  there  was  not  much  order  about 
their  leaving.  Two  or  three  caissons  containing  considerable 
ammunition  were  left  in  the  forts.  The  Regiment  bivouacked 
on  the  Rebel  Gen.  Harrison's  plantation.  As  the  army  ap 
proached  Savannah  the  country  became  more  marshy  and  diffi 
cult,  and  they  came  more  frequently  upon  obstructions,  in  the 
shape  of  felled  trees  at  the  crossings  of  roads,  swamps,  or  narrow 
causeways,  which,  however,  were  removed  in  an  incredibly  short 
time  by  the  pioneer  corps. 

The  loth  the  Regiment  marched  to  within  about  four  and  a 
half  miles  of  Savannah,  and  formed  line  of  battle  with  the  left 
of  the  Brigade  on  the  Savannah  river.  Up  to  this  time  the  boys 
had  fared  sumptuously  every  day,  but  the  nearer  the  army 
approached  to  Savannah  the  scarcer  became  provisions,  for  the 


THE    123!)    REGIMENT.  147 

reason  that  the  entire  army  was  concentrating  and  the  field  for 
foraging  was  not  so  extensive,  consequently  by  the  roth  of 
December  they  became  narrowed  down  to  rice  and  poor  beef. 

The  nth  the  Regiment  changed  their  position  to  one  nearer 
the  river.  The  question  of  rations  was  becoming  a  serious  one 
to  the  boys.  At  an  old  rice  mill  some  distance  from  the  Regi 
ment,  some  of  the  boys  who  had  money,  purchased  rice  at  one 
dollar  per  quart,  but  the  demand  being  greater  than  the  supply 
even  at  that  price,  this  avenue  was  closed,  and  the  boys  fell  back 
to  beef  alone.  There  was  considerable  firing  on  the  right  of  the 
line,  but  no  firing  of  consequence  in  front  of  the  Regiment.  Of 
course  the  Rebels  kept  throwing  over  shells,  to  which  the  boys 
paid  but  little  or  no  attention. 

December  i2th,  Battery  "I,"  stationed  on  the  bank  of  the 
river,  captured  two  Rebel  gun-boats,  and  cut  off  two  gun-boats 
from  communicating  with  the  citv.  In  the  immediate  front  of 
the  Regiment  was  a.  large  rice  field,  which  had  been  flooded 
either  by  the  tide  water  or  by  inland  ponds.  Away  across  this 
body  of  water  could  be  seen  ponderous  guns,  and  Rebel  soldiers 
commanding  them.  The  boys  knew  there  could  be  no  advance 
made  in  their  front  except  by  crossing  this  flooded  rice  field  on 
narrow  causeways,  \vhich  the  cannon  on  the  opposite  side  com 
manded. 

December  i3th  Fort  McAllister  was  carried  by  assault  by  Gen. 
Hazen's  Division  of  the  i5th  Corps.  The  assault  was  made  late 
in  the  afternoon,  the  roar  of  the  artillery  being  distinctly  heard 
by  the  boys  in  the  Regiment. 

December  i4th  the  boys  commenced  building  breastworks, 
which  convinced  them  that  no  direct  assault  was  to  be  made  on 
the  city.  From  the  i5th  to  the  2Oth  the  Regiment  lay  behind 
their  works.  Picket  and  camp  duty  had  to  be  performed  as 
usual.  The  all  absorbing  question  was  that  of  provisions. 


148  REMINISCENCES    OF 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  condition  of  the  balance  of  the  ar 
my,  we  know  the  boys  belonging  to  the  12  3d  Regiment  were 
HUNGRY.  Beef  was  issued  in  very  limited  quantities,  and  of 
quality  not  the  best.  Every  day,  when  the  time  for  killing  beef 
came,  the  place  was  thronged  with  soldiers  in  quest  of  fat  with 
which  to  fry  their  beef.  Many  of  them  not  being  fortunate 
enough  to  secure  this  coveted  article,  placed  their  piece  of  beef 
on  a  stick  and  roasted  it  over  a  fire.  One  soldier,  well  known 
to  the  writer,  received  mostly  bone  on  one  occasion.  He  roasted 
this  over  the  fire,  and  after  getting  all  the  meat  he  could  from 
it,  cast  the  bone  aside.  He  went  to  sleep  that  night  hungry,  and 
dreamed  he  was  at  home  attending  a  public  supper,  where  was 
spread  a  table  loaded  with  all  the  eatables  his  heart  could  wish. 
But  around  this  table  was  an  iron  railing,  and  although  almost 
famished  he  could  not  get  to  the  table.  He  awoke  from  his 
dream,  went  out  and  got  the  bone  which  he  had  discarded  awhile 
before,  washed  it,  and  roasted  it  over  the  fire  again. 

But  amid  all  this  there  was  no  complaining — no  grumbling. 
The  boys  knew  that  communications  had  been  opened  with  the 
fleet,  and  it  was  only  a  question  of  time  when  they  would  again 
have  rations,  but  they  prayed  that  the  time  might  be  short.  The 
loth  of  December  the  2d  Division  succeeded  in  getting  a  position 
for  their  artillery,  where  they  could  throw  shells  into  the  city. 

The  morning  of  the  2ist  the  boys  awoke  hungry,  with  the 
hope  that  something  would  turn  up  during  the  day  that  would 
give  them  rations.  Soon  the  order  came  to  "fall  in."  Filing 
out  of  their  works,  they  marched  straight  for  the  front.  Reach 
ing  the  edge  of  the  flooded  rice  field  they  commenced  crossing 
on  one  of  the  causeways.  They  did  not  know  that  the  city  had 
been  evacuated  the  night  before,  and  expected  every  moment  to 
be  swept  into  eternity  by  guns  on  the  opposite  side.  On  they 
went,  across,  up  to  and  by  the  large  cannon,  which  they  found 
had  been  spiked,  and  then  knew  that  the  enemy  was  not  there. 


THE     123!)    REGIMENT.  149 


CHAPTER     XXV. 

THE  REGIMENT  IN  SAVANNAH— THE  MAYOR  Of  THE  CITY  GIVES  TWO  HUN 
GRY  SOLDIERS  SOMETHING  TO  EAT— THE  JOY  OF  THL  OLD  GERMAN— ON 
THE  SAVANNAH  RIVER  IN  DUGOUTS— THE  SEARCH  FOR  HIDDEN  PROVIS 
IONS  ON  THE  MARCH— TH  I;  CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  CAROLINAS  COMMENCED— 
ARRIVAL  AT  SISTER'S  FERRY. 

AFTER  marching  some  distance  towards  the  city  the  Reg 
iment  came  to  a  halt,  and  quite  a  number  of  the  boys 
started  for  the  city  in  quest  of  something  to  eat.  It  was  the  for 
tune  of  two  of  the  boys  to  first  strike  the  house  of  the  mayor  of 
Savannah.  Ringing  the  door  bell,  three  gentlemen  came  to  the 
door,  and  the  two  soldiers  making  their  wants  known  one  of  the 
gentlemen  stepped  back  into  the  house,  and  the  two  remaining 
informed  the  soldiers  that  the  gentleman  who  had  gone  in  quest 
of  provisions  was  the  mayor  of  the  city.  He  soon  appeared  with 
a  pan  of  bread  and  cakes,  which  the  soldiers  placed  in  their  hav 
ersacks  with  many  thanks.  The  next  house  which  they  ap 
proached  was  occupied  by  a  German,  who  invited  the  boys  in 
and  seemed  very  glad  to  see  them.  Fie  conducted  them  into  a 
room  and  there  left  them.  The  boys  did  not  know  what  to 
make  of  the  singular  actions  of  the  German,  and  as  he  dis 
appeared  through  a  door  at  the  further  end  of  the  long  room  in 
which  they  were  seated,  they  placed  caps  on  their  rifles  in  order 
to  be  in  readiness  to  defend  themselves  should  they  discover  any 


I  50  REMINISCENCES    OF 

treachery  on  the  part  of  the  German.  He  soon  appeared,  how 
ever,  but  not  alone,  for  with  him  came  a  young  man,  also  a 
German,  wearing  the  army  blue,  who  came  quickly  forward  and 
shook  the  hands  of  the  two  soldiers,  and  made  other  demonstra 
tions  of  delight,  while  the  old  German  lay  back  in  a  chair,  hold 
ing  his  sides  with  laughter,  exclaiming,  "Mine  Gott  in  himmel, 
dot  vas  goot,  dot  vas  goot ! '"  An  explanation  soon  followed,  to 
the  effect  that  the  soldier  had  escaped  from  the  Rebels  several 
months  previous,  and  the  old  German  had  concealed  him  in  his 
house,  and  that  the  two  hungry  soldiers  from  the  i23d  Regiment 
were  the  first  boys  in  blue  he  had  seen  for  several  months.  It  is 
needless  to  say  that  the  two  soldiers  fared  well  at  the  hands  of  the 
old  German,  who  seemed  to  be  well  supplied  with  this  world's 
goods,  so  far  as  provisions  went,  at  least.  They  returned  to  the 
Regiment,  which  they  found  in  camp  on  the  Savannah  river,  a 
mile  or  so  from  the  city. 

The  22d  of  December  the  Regiment  laid  out  streets,  and 
commenced  building  quarters.  Here  the  Regiment  remained, 
performing  the  usual  duties  of  camp  life,  till  the  iyth  of  January, 
1865,  and  during  this  time  the  boys  enjoyed  themselves  as  only 
soldiers  could  who  had  just  finished  a  long  campaign.  Some  of 
the  boys  speculated  in  provisions,  etc.,  to  some  extent.  They 
made  their  purchases  at  Fort  Pulaski,  distant  from  th.e  city  about 
sixteen  miles.  They  usually  went  in  long  dug-outs,  going  with 
the  tide  late  in  the  afternoon,  and  coming  back  with  it  the  next 
morning.  By  so  doing,  the  sixteen  miles  would  be  made  in  a 
remarkably  short  time.  Arriving  at  Fort  Pulaski  they  would 
purchase  of  the  sutlers  there  such  articles  as  they  desired,  and 
be  ready  to  start  for  camp  with  their  boat  loaded  down  in  the 
morning.  They  paid  twenty  dollars  per  barrel  for  apples, 
one  dollar  per  pound  for  butter,  seventy-five  cents  for  cheese, 
and  fourteen  dollars  for  a  common  flour  barrel  packed  full  of  mo 
lasses  cakes.  Arriving  at  camp,  they  would  sell  apples,  three  for 


T ! \  V.    12?!)    R EGI M ENT .  I  5  J 

fifty  cents,  ten,  twelve  and  fifteen  cents  each,  according  to  size. 
They  usually  sold  fourteen  of  the  small  molasses  cakes  for  one 
dollar,  butter  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per  pound,  and  cheese 
one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents.  The  cakes  and  apples  com 
manded  the  best  sale,  although  now  and  then  would  be  found  a 
soldier  willing  to  indulge  in  butter  and  c'heese.  Sometimes  the 
boys  would  find  it  very  difficult  to  get  their  load  safely  to  camp, 
and  especially  so  if  the  wind  blew  hard,  for  then  the  great  danger 
was  in  getting  swamped.  If  they  got  well  away  from  the  shore, 
and  managed  their  boat  so  as  to  ride  the  waves,  they  wrere  all 
right,  but  woe  to  the  dug-out  that  by  any  mismanagement  got 
into  the  trough  of  the  sea.  A  soldier  who  had  not  spoken  a 
loud  word  for  several  months  accompanied  one  of  these  expedi 
tions.  The  evening  bade  fair  to  be  pleasant  and  still,  for  only 
on  such  evenings  would  the  boys  venture  down  the  river,  and 
they  started  off  in  their  dug-out.  Nearing  Fort  Pulaski  the 
wind  came  up,  and  before  they  reached  the  dock,  the  waves  were 
rolling  four  or  five  feet  high,  and  by  some  careless  move  of  the 
soldier  who  was  steering,  the  boat  came  sideways  to  the  waves, 
and  was  in  imminent  danger  of  being  swamped.  The  first  one 
to  give  utterance  to  his  fears  was  the  soldier  who  had  not  spoken 

above  a  whisper  for  so   long  a  time.      ''My  G , '"  said  he, 

"we  shall  all  go  to  the  bottom."  Fora  moment  or  two,  this 
was  what  the  others  thought,  but  by  skillful  management  the 
boat  was  brought  around  to  head  the  waves,  and  they  were 
-saved.  From  that  time  out,  George  could  yell  as  loud  as  the 
rest  of  the  boys.  Opposite  Fort  Pulaski  was  an  immense  oyster 
bed,  and  when  the  tide  was  out  the  boys  would  collect  a  bushel 
or  so,  row  into  shore  and  have  a  feast  of  raw  oysters. 

Nearly  every  day  squads  of  soldiers  procured  passes  to  go  into 
the  city,  and  there  paid  exhorbitant  prices  for  very  poor  meals. 
But  what  cared  the  soldiers  for  money  if  they  could  have  a  good 
time. 


152  REMINISCENCES    OF 

While  each  man  in  the  Regiment,  with  that  easy  philosophy 
of  the  soldier  which  teaches  him  to  catch  pleasure  wherever  he 
can,  was  making  the  most  of  his  time,  not  one  imagined  that  the 
march  to  Savannah  had  been  made  with  no  other  object  than  to 
remain  there.  It  was  understood  by  all  the  intelligent  soldiers, 
that  so  long  as  Lee  stood  defiant  at  the  Rebel  capital,  Richmond 
was  the  real  grand  object  of  the  campaign.  How  and  when  they 
were  to  reach  that  place,  and  the  success  of  the  forages  on  the 
next  move  forward,  were  the  questions  discussed  by  the  boys. 
Having  the  experience  of  the  march  to  the  sea,  they  had  no  fears 
but  the  country  through  which  they  were  to  march  would  supply 
them  with  the  necessaries  of  life. 

Many  an  evening  was  passed  in  recounting  the  manner  in 
which  they  had  discovered  the  secreted  provisions,  and  some 
times  the  hidden  watches  and  silver.  When  the  boys  first  com 
menced  the  Georgia  campaign  they  had  no  difficulty  in  finding 
provisions,  but  alter  a  while  nothing  could  be  found  at  the  houses 
along  the  march,  and  concluding  that  everything  must  be  hid 
den  away  somewhere,  they  commenced  to  search,  and  on  many 
instances  were  liberally  rewarded.  It  seems  that  as  rumors  of 
the  approach  of  Sherman's  army  reached  the  frightened  inhab 
itants,  frantic  efforts  were  made  to  conceal  not  only  their  val 
uable  personal  effects,  plate,  jewelry,  and  other  rich  goods,  but 
also  articles  of  food,  such  as  hams,  sugar,  flour,  etc.  A  large 
part  of  these  supplies  were  carried  to  the  neighboring  swamps, 
but  the  favorite  method  of  concealment  was  the  burial  of  the 
treasures  in  the  pathways  and  gardens  adjoining  the  dwelling 
houses.  Sometimes  the  graveyard  would  be  selected  as  the  best 
place  of  security.  Unfortunately  for  the  people  the  negroes  be 
trayed  them,  and  the  soldiers  soon  learned  the  secret.  If  sup 
plies  thus  hidden  escaped  the  search  of  the  boys,  it  was  not  for 
want  of  diligent  exploration.  Whenever  a  halt  was  made  almost 
every  inch  of  ground  in  the  vicinity  of  the  dwellings  was  poked 


THK     1231)    KKG1MKXT,  153 

by  ramrods,  pierced  with  sabres  and  upturned  with  spades.  It 
was  comical  to  see  a  group  of  these  blue  coated  boys  punching 
the  unoffending  earth  in  a  most  energetic  way.  Nothing  escaped 
the  observation  of  these  sharp  witted  soldiers.  The  fresh  earth 
recently  turned  up,  a  bed  of  flowers  just  set  out,  the  slightest  in-- 
dication  of  a  change  in  appearance  or  position  attracted  the  gaze 
of  the  boys,  and  they  "went  for  "  the  loose  earth  as  a  dog  would 
dig  out  a  woodchuck.  After  awhile  nothing  couid  be  found 
buried  around  the  dwellings,  and  the  boys  concluded  the  val 
uables  must  have  been  carried  away  and  secreted.  So  on  reach 
ing  a  house  they  would  take  a  circle  around  it  until  they  espied 
a  wagon  track,  which  they  would  follow.  Sometimes  it  would 
take  them  off  into  the  woods,  and-  into  an  open  place  where 
woodmen  had  been  at  work  chopping  down  trees,  the  branches 
being  piled  in  different  heaps,  and  under  the  piles  would  be 
found  the  hidden  provisions,  etc. 

On  the  evening  of  January  i6th,  1865,  orders  came  to  be 
ready  to  march.  For  several  days  previous  to  this  there  were 
various  camp  rumors  in  regard  to  marching  orders,  and  the  boys 
who  were  engaged  in  speculation  disposed  of  their  goods  as 
best  they  could. 

The  morning  of  January  iyth,  the  camp  presented  a  lively 
appearance.  Each  soldier  packed  his  knapsack  with  only  such 
articles  as  were  absolutely  necessary  on  a  long  march  and  cast 
aside  such  articles  as  he  had  accumulated,  but  which  were  handy 
and  convenient  in  camp.  The  boys  had  been  on  too  many 
marches  to  load  themselves  down,  as  was  the  case  in  their 
first  year's  soldiering.  Soon  the  bugle  sounded,  and  they  filed 
out  of  their  camp  at  Savannah,  into  the  road,,  down  to  the 
river  and  across  the  pontoon  bridge  into  South  Carolina.  The 
first  house  which  the  boys  passed  after  crossing  the  river  into 
South  Carolina  was  in  flames,  and  it  was  a  welcome  sight  to  the 


IS4  REMINISCENCES    OF 

them,  for  South  Carolina  had  commenced  to  pay  her  debt  Little 
did  she  dream  that  the  hated  flag  would  again  wave  over  her 
soil  when  she  dragged  her  Southern  sisters  into  the  cauldron  of 
secession,  but  this  pleasant  January  morning  a  thousand  Union 
banners  float  in  the  breeze,  and  the  ground  trembled  beneath  the 
feet  of  thousands  of  brave  Union  boys  in  blue,  who  knew  their 
mission,  and  were  determined  to  perform  it  to  the  end.  The 
Regiment  pushed  on,  and  after  marching  about  ten  miles  went 
into  camp.  The  igth  the  Regiment  reached  Sister's  Ferry,  on 
the  Savannah  river,  in  a  rain  storm,  and  went  into  camp.  Here 
the  Regiment  remained  until  the  2yth,  unloading  boats,  building 
roads  and  waiting  for  supplies.  A  gunboat  lav  anchored  oppo 
site  and  the  steamers  run  up.  from  Savannah  with  supplies,  so 
that  Sister's  Ferry,  while  the  Regiment  lay  there,  was  a  lively 
place.  The  zyth  the  Regiment  pushed  on,  making  about  twelve 
miles  and  went  into  camp.  The  28th  the  Regiment  made  but 
little  progress  on  account  of  the  roads,  and  after  marching  until 
about  noon  they  learned  that  the  road  led  through  a  swamp,  and 
it  was  found  necessary  to  turn  back  a  few  miles  to  strike  another 
road,  and  when  night  came  on  the  boys  were  tired  enough, 
having  waded  through  swamps  and  brooks  nearly  all  clay. 

The  29th  the  Regiment  marched  through  a  small  village  called 
Robertsville,  and  camped  on  a  large  plantation.  During  the 
inarch  to  this  point  the  boys  had  an  opportunity  of  observing  a 
barren  agricultural  region,  and  a  population  of  poor  whites  whose 
brains  seemed  as  arid  as  the  land  they  occupied.  The  wealthy 
land  owners  had  all  run  away  on  the  approach  of  the  troops, 
and  the  only  inhabitants  seen  were  the  poor  whites,  a  half  civ 
ilized  people,  who  seemed  not  to  have  the  intelligence  of  the  or 
dinary  slaves,  who  were  by  far  the  more  interesting,  alert,  witty 
and  sensible. 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT,  155 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

TH>:  CAROLINA  CAMPAIGN— REGIMENT  AT  EOBERTSVILLE— CROSS  THE 
SALKAUATCHIE  RIVER  AT  BEAUFORT'S  BRIDGE— REACH  THE  EDISTO 
RIVER— A  SKIRMISH  FOR  CHICKENS— THE  NIGHT  MARCHES  LIT  UP  BY 
BURNING  BUILDINGS— ARRIVAL  AT  LEXINGTON  COURT  HOUSE— ACROSS 
THE  SALUDA  RIVER 

ri'^HK  3Oth  of  January  the  1231!  Regiment  lay  camped  on  a 
plantation  near  Robertsville,  which  they  had  reached  the 
day  before,  and  the  3ist  they  marched  down  to  Sister's  Landing. 
The  boys  enjoyed  the  luxury  of  wading  through  swamps,  but  it 
being  one  of  the  military  necessities,  no  complaints  were  made. 
Reaching  the  Landing  in  good  season,  five  companies  were  sent 
out  upon  a  reconnoissance.  Making  a  detour  of  a  few  miles, 
they  returned  without  discovering  either  bushwhackers  or  Rebel 
infantry.  The  Regiment  lay  at  the  landing  until  the  4th  of  Feb 
ruary,  unloading  provisions,  etc.,  from  the  boats,  when  they 
marched  back  to  Robertsville  and  camped,  and  found  that  the 
little  village  had  been  nearly  destroyed  by  fire. 

February  5th,  in  the  afternoon,  the  Regiment  took  up  its  line 
of  march.  During  the  afternoon  they  passed  several  houses 
which  had  been  burned  to  the  ground.  Through  rain  and  mud, 
and  over  most  wretched  roads,  they  finally  reached  the  Coosaw- 
hatchie,  where  a  bridge  had  to  be  built,  and  on  the  8th  camped 


156  REMINISCENCES    OF 

at  Beaufort's  Bridge.  The  place  was  remarkably  strong,  both  in 
its  natural  advantages  and  the  line  of  works  which  defend  the 
passage.  Wading  and  stumbling  over  the  narrow  road  which 
led  half  a  mile  through  the  swamp  they  emerged  from  the  dense 
jungle,  and  beheld  upon  its  border  a  line  of  well  built  works, 
extending  for  some  distance  on  either  side.  There  were  the 
embrasures,  pierced  by  heavy  guns,  while  the  parapet  was  sur 
mounted  by  the  usual  head-log.  Probably  if  the  Rebels  had 
not  been  flanked,  and  could  have  defended  this  place,  many  lives 
would  have  been  sacrificed  before  its  capture. 

On  the  9th  the  Regiment  marched  rapidly  to  Black ville,  a 
small  station  on  the  South  Carolina  Railroad,  and  a  place 
renowned  for  its  "secesh  "  proclivities,  and  its  abuse  of  Union 
prisoners.  At  this  place  no  violence  was  done  to  the  inmates, 
but  household  furniture  was  pushed  about  somewhat.  In  and 
around  this  place  wide  spreading  columns  of  smoke  continued 
to  rise. 

On  the  loththe  Regiment  reached  the  south  fork  of  the  E:iis- 
to  river,  where  a  bridge  had  to  be  built  for  the  artillery  and  wag 
on  train.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  the  boys  discovered 
a  house,  and  also  discovered  several  cavalrymen  near  the  i.. 
The  great  question  with  them  was,  not  how  they  could  keep  out 
of  the  way  of  the  cavalrymen,  but  how  they  could  cross  the  river 
and  get  to  the  house.  Some  half  a  dozen  of  them  finally  suc 
ceeded  in  the  attempt.  The  cavalrymen,  seeing  the  boys  opened 
a  brisk  fire,  which  was  returned  by  them  as  they  kept  advancing. 
The  Rebels  soon  mounted  their  horses  and  rode  off  to  the  edge 
of  a  piece  of  woods  where  they  remained,  while  the  boys  chased 
the  hens,  chickens  and  geese.  Clubs  flew  in  every  direction, 
and^  if  any  one  missed  a  goose  and  hit  a  soldier  on  the  shins,  it 
mattered  not — no  one  got  mad.  The  main  point  was  to  secure 
the  goose.  The  cavalrymen  had  just  finished  a  meal  of  hoe-cake, 


THE     I23D    REGIMENT.  157 

and  on  the  table  in  the  house  the  boys  found  a  cake  or  two 
which  they  confiscated,  and  being  well  provisioned  with  fowls, 
etc.,  went  back  to  camp.  They  cooked  their  fowls  all  night, 
expecting  to  have  a  royal  breakfast,  but  they  might  just  as  well 
have  boiled  an  old  army  shoe,  for  the  chickens,  which  must 
have  been  hatched  before  secession  was  thought  of,  were  too 
tough  to  eat. 

The  nth  was  spent  in  making  a  bridge  and  repairing  roads, 
and  the  i2th  the  Regiment  pushed  on,  reaching  the  north  branch 
of  the  Edisto  river.  •  Here  a  bridge  also  had  to  be  built.  The 
advance  had  pretty  heavy  skirmishing  with  the  enemy  and 
several  were  killed.  The  I3th  the  Regiment  crossed  the  river, 
marched  about  five  miles  and  camped.  The  land  seemed  to 
improve  as  they  advanced,  and  the  region  was  rich  in  forage  and 
supplies,  and  the  boys  revelled  in  the  luxuries  experienced  in  the 
Georgia  campaign — turkeys,  geese,  ducks,  chickens,  ham,  pota 
toes,  honey,  and  abundance  of  other  luxuries  for  the  soldiers, 
and  fodder  for  the  animals.  The  houses  and  outbuildings  on 
the  plantations  denoted  the  wealth  of  the  planters.  Nearly  all 
the  plantations  were  deserted,  although  here  and  there  would  be 
found  women  and  children.  Black  columns  of  smoke  continued 
to  rise  on  all  sides  as  the  army  moved  forward.  Building  mater 
ial  must  have  been  in  great  demand  in  South  Carolina  after  the 
war  closed. 

The  1 4th  the  Regiment  marched  to  some  cross  roads  and 
bivouacked,  and  on  the  I5th  marched  to  near  Lexington  Court 
House.  The  boys  were  on  one-quarter  rations,  and  South  Car 
olina  had  to  make  up  the  balance.  The  "bummers"  were  out 
every  day,  returning  at  night  loaded  down  with  provisions.  Thi 
branch  of  Sherman's  army  did  good  service.  Seldom  a  day 
passed  but  what  they  had  a  skirmish  with  the  Rebels.  Woe  to 
the  forager  that  fell  into  their  hands.  Generally  his  dead  body 


158  REMINISCENCES    OF 

would  be  found  at  the  side  of  the  road  with  his  throat  cut,  and  a 
piece  of  paper  pinned  to  his  breast  on  which  was  written,  "  Death 
to  all  foragers.  "  A  forager  was  in  more  real  danger  than  the 
soldier  in  the  ranks. 

The  1 6th  the  Regiment  marched  to  within  four  miles  of  Co 
lumbia,  the  capital  of  South  Carolina,  and  camped.  The  mag 
nificent  spectacle  of  a  fire  in  the  woods  was  the  striking  episode 
of  their  march  this  day.  The  army  moved  through  a  tract  of 
hilly  country  which  was  thickly  clothed  with  pine  forests.  Many 
of  the  trees  were  dead,  and  all  had  been  scraped  in  order  to  ob 
tain  the  resinous  substance.  Accidentally  or  otherwise  the  dry 
leaves  and  pine  cones  had  caught  fire,  which  ignited  these  trees, 
and  for  miles  the  woods  were  on  fire.  It  was  grand  to  see  the 
flames  flying  over  the  ground  like  a  frightened  steed,  but  to  have 
to  march  into  the  woods  and  through  the  smoke  was  another 
thing  altogether. 

The  Regiment  crossed  the  Saluda  river  about  dark  the  lyth, 
and  after  marching  some  distance  bivouacked.  The  sky  was  lit 
up  in  the  direction  of  the  city  of  Columbia,  and  the  boys  knew 
that  large  fires  were  raging  there.  Whether  the  fires  originated 
in  sparks  flying  from  the  hundreds  of  bales  of  cotton  which  the 
Rebels  had  placed  along  the  middle  of  the  main  street  and  fired 
as  they  left  the  city,  or  whether  the  two  hundred  or  more 
prisoners  who  had  escaped  from  the  Rebel  train  as  they  were 
being  conveyed  from  Columbia  to  Charlotte,  remembering  their 
long  sufferings  in  Rebel  prison  pens,  sought  this  means  of  retri 
bution,  or  from  other  causes,  we  cannot  say. 

The  1 8th  the  Regiment  did  not  move  until  towards  evening, 
and  after  marching  about  eight  miles,  bivouacked.  Every  house 
along  the  road  was  burning  or  had  been  burned.  In  fact  the 
road  was  lit  up  all  the  way  by  burning  buildings.  They  passed 
one  house  which  was  in  flames,  and  some  soldiers  were  helping 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  159 

two  old  people  out  of  a  window,  and  they  had  barely  escaped 
when  the  entire  building  was  wrapped  in  flames.  This  was  not 
the  work  of  any  of  the  boys  in  the  i2^d  Regiment,  for  the 
building  was  on  fire  when  they  came  to  it,  and  it  was  some  of 
them  who  helped  the  people  from  the  burning  building.  Had 
the  house  been  vacant  when  they  came  to  it,  we  certainly  would 
not  have  invested  any  money  in  the  property  with  the  thought 
that  it  would  remain  unburned.  But  very  few  men  were  to  be 
seen  on  the  march,  and  what  few  the  boys  did  run  across  evinced 
a  whining,  helpless,  craven  spirit,  so  different  from  the  Georgians. 
These  South  Carolinians,  these  fellows  who  were  to  ' '  die  in  the 
last  ditch,"  who  would  welcome  the  Northerners  "with  bloody 
hands  to  hospitable  graves,"  were  more  cowardly  than  children, 
and  whined  like  whipped  school  boys.  The  boys  had  a  supreme 
disgust  for  every  one  of  these  men  they  met  in  South  Carolina 
so  many  years  ago,  and  since  the  close  of  the  war  they  have  not 
discovered  anything  that  has  materially  changed  their  minds. 


l6o  REMINISCENCES    OF 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

THE  REGIMENT  ARRIVES  AT  BROAD  RIVER— COMPANY  F'S  FORAGERS- 
CROSS  THE  WATEREE  RIVER— SKIRMISH  WITH  TEE  REBELS  AT  CHESTER. 
FIELD  COURT  HOUSE— REACH  CHERAW— CROSS  THE  GREAT  PEDEE  RIV 
ER— CROSS  THE  LINE  INTO  NORTH  CAROLINA  AND  CAMP  NEAR  LAUREL 
HILL. 

THE  i Qth  of  February,  1865,  the  Regiment  filed  out  of 
camp  about  noon,  and  marched  to  within  about  one  mile 
of  Broad  river  and  camped.  The  2Oth  the  Regiment  pushed 
forward,  crossing  Broad  river,  and  went  into  camp  about  seven 
miles  beyond.  It  was  near  this  river  that  the  handsome  stallion 
was  captured  which  Gen.  Rogers  rode  afterwards. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  army  lived  mostly  on  the  coun 
try  during  these  campaigns,  and  that  men  were  detailed  from 
each  company  to  do  the  foraging.  Clark  Curtis  of  North  Green 
wich,  and  J.  E.  Perry  of  Argyle,  members  of  Co.  F,  were  de 
tailed  to  forage  for  their  company.  These  two  soldiers,  with  two 
others  from  company  B,  started  out  on  foot  the  day  the  Reg 
iment  reached  Broad  river.  After  having  traveled  some  four  or 
five  miles  through  the  woods,  in  a  north-easterly  direction,  they 
came  to  a  large  plantation.  They  found  that  the  plantation  was 
occupied  by  one  white  woman  and  about  two  hundred  slaves. 
The  slaves  lived  in  log  huts  about  sixty  in  number.  .  The  huts 
were  built  facing  each  other,  about  thirty  on  one  side  and  thirty 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  l6l 

on  the  other,  and  at  the  head  of  the  street  was  the  planter's 
residence,  a  two  and  a  half  story  building,  painted  white,  with  a 
large  yard  in  front.  What  struck  the  boys  as  being  singular  was 
the  fact  that  there  were  no  stables  on  the  plantation,  and  but  one 
carriage  house,  horse  barn  and  granary  and  a  large  store  house  ; 
in  the  latter  they  found  plenty  of  peanuts.  And  again,  they 
could  not  find  any  provisions,  but  knowing  that  the  two  hun 
dred  colored  people  must  eat,  they  commenced  a  search,  but 
could  find  nothing.  Finally  one  of  the  colored  men  told  them 
that  the  owner  of  the  plantation  was  on  an  island  in  Broad  river 
about  two  miles  distant,  and  that  he  had  with  him  the  horses. 
With  the  colored  man  as  guide  they  started  for  the  island.  They 
reached  the  river  in  about  an  hour  and  found  an  old  boat  lying 
bottom  upwards  on  the  bank.  This  they  launched  and  found 
that  it  leaked,  but  bound  to  reach  the  island  they  jumped  in,  one 
taking  the  oars  while  the  others  bailed  out  with  old  cups.  They 
at  last  succeeded  in  reaching  the  island.  Here  they  found  an 
old  log  house,  in  which  was  a  double-barrelled  rifle  loaded  and 
capped,  and  a  barrel  of  flour.  After  filling  their  sacks  with  the 
flour,  (the  bummers  always  carried  large  sacks, )  they  went  in 
pursuit  of  the  horses.  Over  a  knoll  a  short  distance  from  the 
hut  they  discovered  the  horses,  seven  in  number.  Five  were  run 
ning  loose  and  two  were  locked  to  a  tree  by  means  of  a  chain  and 
padlock.  They  succeeded  in  catching  three  of  those  running 
loose,  and  breaking  the  locks  secured  the  two  fastened.  The 
planter  was  some  distance  off,  watching  operations,  but 
offered  no  objections.  Finding  another  boat  on  the  island,  they 
loaded  their  flour  into  it,  and  had  the  colored  man  row  it  across, 
while  they  mounted  their  horses  and  swam  the  river.  Reaching 
the  opposite  side  the  flour  was  placed  on  the  backs  of  the  horses, 
and  the  foragers  started  up  the  river  road  to  meet  the  Regiment. 
Before  proceeding  far  they  came  to  another  plantation,  and 
passing  themselves  off  for  Rebel  soldiers  were  treated  to  a  good 


I  62  REMINISCENCES    OF 

supper.  After  supper  they  pried  the  door  off  a  smoke  house, 
and  helping  themselves  to  several  hams,  which  they  strapped  to 
their  horses,  pushed  on.  Proceeding  about  two  miles  they  came 
to  Gen.  Geary's  Division.  The  General  was  there,  and  took 
everything  away  from  them,  and  put  them  under  guard.  The 
next  morning,  Col.  Rogers,  hearing  that  Geary  had  some  of  his 
foragers  under  arrest,  went  directly  to  his  headquarters,  ac 
companied  by  Gen.  Slocum,  and  demanded  of  him  his  men 
and  their  forage.  Geary  was  about  starting,  and  had  the  stallion 
saddled,  but  he  transferred  the  saddle  to  his  own  horse,  and  Col. 
Rogers  and  his  men,  with  their  horses  and  forage,  joined  the 
Regiment.  The  boys  gave  the  stallion  to  the  Colonel,  which, 
we  believe,  he  brought  home  with  him.  The  other  horses  they 
kept  for  their  own  use  in  foraging,  and  did  good  service,  sup 
plying  the  camp  with  provisions  every  night,  and  starting  out 
again  early  in  the  morning. 

The  2ist  the  Regiment  passed  through  Winnsboro  in  the 
night,  a  large  village  which  had  been  burned  by  the  enemy. 
Many  buildings  were  then  burning.  Winnsboro  was  first  settled 
by  Irish,  and  grew  into  a  large,  thriving  place.  It  is  situated  on 
the  Charlotte,  (N.  C.,)  and  South  Carolina  R.  R.,  seventy  miles 
south  of  the  former  place,  and  thirty-seven  miles  north  of  Colum 
bia.  The  Regiment  camped  some  three  miles  from  the  village. 
The  \voods  and  fields  in  this  vicinity  were  filled  with  rabbits, 
whose  presence  was  the  cause  of  a  good  deal  of  fun.  The  boys 
did  not  seem  so  much  disposed  to  injure  the  frightened  animals 
as  they  did  to  engage  in  the  chase. 

The  22d  the  Regiment  made  a  march  of  twenty  miles  over  a 
succession  of  horrible  hills.  The  boys  having  become  used  to 
traveling  level  roads,  where  the  feet  pressed  gently  into  the  yield 
ing  sand,  the  change  to  mounting  steep  hills,  and  descending 
into  valleys,  upon  hard,  clayey  soil,  resulted  in  stiffened  muscles 


T1IJ-:     123!)     RKGIMKXT.  163 

and  sore  feet.  But  they  made  this  toilsome  march,  reached  the 
Waterce  river  at  the  point  called  Rocky  Mount,  crossing  at  about 
3  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  231!,  and  went  into  camp  some 
four  or  five  miles  beyond.  The  task  was  all  the  more  difficult 
because  the  road  was  not  much  used,  and  near  the  banks  of  the 
stream  it  was  extremely  precipitous,  filled  with  large  boulders  of 
granite  rock,  and  cut  up  with  steep  gullies. 

The  23d  the  Regiment  remained  quiet.  The  Regiment  did 
not  move  on  the  24th  very  far,  on  account  of  the  I4th  Corps 
crossing  their  line  of  march.  A  storm,  which  had  been  gather 
ing  for  several  days,  burst  forth.  The  rain  pattered  upon  the 
little  shelter  tents  over  their  heads  and  sputtered  in  the  fire, 
Avhich,  made  from  South  Carolina  rails,  burned  as  brightly  as  it 
could  under  the  circumstances.  It  swayed  to  and  fro  in  the  fit 
ful  wind,  now  and  then  pouring  into  the  little  tent  a  volume  of 
smoke  which  was  grateful  neither  to  the  eyes  nor  nostrils.  Ira 
Stacey  died,  of  heart  disease  it  was  supposed,  on  the  night  of  the 
24th.  The  25th  the  Regiment  did  not  move.  The  26th  the 
Regiment  started  in  the  afternoon,  marched  about  five  miles  and 
went  into  camp.  The  roads  were  in  a  very  bad  condition.  The 
2yth  they  did  not  march  much  over  three  miles,  on  account  of 
a  ibad  place  in  the  road. 

The  28th  was  a  rainy  morning  with  nothing  to  eat, — made 
about  eight  miles  and  camped.  Soldiers  were  taught,  among 
other  virtues,  the  cardinal  one  of  patience ;  but  three  days 
continuous  rain,  with  its  accompaniments  of  sticky  mud,  roads 
to  be  corduroyed,  and  small  streams  to  cross,  wet  feet  and  clothes, 
and  smouldering  fires,  they  thought  sufficient  for  one  term  ;  but, 
when  every  one  was  preparing  to  be  discontented,  that  old  friend, 
the  sun,  after  severe  struggles  with  the  storm,  won  the  fight  and 
shone  out  upon  them  all — upon  bedraggled  mule,  upon  toiling 
soldier,  upon  roads  of  mud,  and  upon  the  most  beautiful 


164  REMINISCENCES    OF 

country  they  had  seen  in  South  Carolina.  By  March  ist  the 
roads  were  good,  likewise  the  forage,  and  about  fifteen  miles 
were  made.  Fortunately  the  route  led  along  high  ridges  and 
through  the  pine  barrens,  where  the  soil  was  sandy,  and  better 
for  the  fall  of  rain. 

March  zd  the  Regiment  started  early  and  marched  very  rapid 
ly  until  within  about  two  miles  of  Chesterfield  Court  House, 
where  their  advance  was  checked  by  -Hampton's  cavalry.  The 
5th  Connecticut  and  Hist  New  York  Regiments  were  deployed 
as  skirmishers,  the  I23d  and  46th  Pennsylvania  acting  as  sup 
port.  While  the  skirmishers  were  deploying,  a  battery  came  up 
and  threw  a  few  shells  at  the  cavalry,  at  the  same  time  an  advance 
was  ordered.  The  Rebels  replied  with  artillery,  but  the  skir 
mishers  moved  steadily  forward  supported  by  the  two  Regiments, 
driving  the  Rebels  from  the  town  in  haste,  and  across  Thomp 
son's  creek.  The  Rebels  undertook  to  destroy  the  bridge,  and 
in  fact  did  set  fire  to  one  end  of  it,  but  the  skirmishers  were  so 
close  behind  them  that  they  put  out  the  fire  and  saved  the  bridge. 
The  Brigade  lay  in  the  swamp  until  some  time  in  the  night, 
when  they  went  back  a  short  distance  and  bivouacked.  As  the 
1 23d  were  passing  an  old  jail,  some  of  the  boys  burst  the  door 
in  and  liberated  two  or  three  who  were  confined  there,  among 
them  one  old  colored  man  who  said  he  was  to  have  been  hanged 
the  next  day,  "but  bress  de  Lor,  de  Yanks  hab  come  and  sabed 
dis  niggah's  neck  sure.  "  During  the  skirmish  one  forager  was 
wounded,  but  the  most  serious  accident  occurred  to  a  negro 
woman  in  a  house  where  the  Rebels  had  taken  cover.  A  bullet 
had  just  clipped  the  lobe  of  her  ear.  When  asked  what  had 
struck  her,  she  replied:  "Lor  bress  me,  mas'r,  I  dunno.  I 
just  fell  right  down.  I  heerd  a  s-z-z-z-z,  and  den  I  jus'  knock 
down;  I  drop  on  de  ground." 

March  3d  found  the  front  clear,   the   Rebels    having    "dun 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  165 

gone."  The  Regiment  built  corduroy  roads,  repaired  the  bridge 
which  the  Rebels  attempted  to  destroy,  and  then  marched  across 
the  bridge,  two  miles  beyond,  and  bivouacked.  The  4th  the 
Regiment  started  about  noon,  and  marched  very  slowly  until 
about  3  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  5th,  when  they  camped, 
They  only  made  about  seven  miles.  A  squed  of  bummers  went 
into  Cheraw,  and  came  out  loaded  with  provisions,  and  when 
on  their  way  back  to  camp  a  squad  of  Rebel  cavalrymen  gave 
them  chase,  and  coming  up  to  them,  the  bummers  turned  and 
gave  them  battle.  The  bummers  finally  got  away  with  the  loss 
of  only  one  man,  a  Sergeant  from  the  5th  Connecticut.  The 
Regiment  remained  in  camp  until  the  morning  of  the  6th  when 
they  started  on  their  march.  Reaching  Cheraw  they  remained 
in  the  place  several  hours.  There  were  some  five  hundred  sick 
Rebels  in  the  hospital.  Here  Marion  is  buried,  and  his  last 
resting  place  is  marked  by  a  single  slab  of  white  marble.  The 
Regiment  pushed  on,  crossing  the  Great  Pedee  river  in  the  night, 
end  marched  until  4  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  yth.  Al 
though  marching  all  night  the  Regiment  were  not  privileged  to 
rest  on  this  day,  but  tramped  on,  marching  about  fifteen  miles, 
and  pitched  their  shelter  tents  in  the  state  of  North  Carolina,  in 
the  vicinity  of  Laurel  Hill.  Lient.  Duane  M.  Hall  took  charge 
of  the  forasrers  from  this  time  out. 


I  66  REMINISCENCES    OF 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

THE  REGIMENT  REACHES  FAYETTEVILLE  AND  PASS  IN  REVIEW  BEFORE 
GEN.  SHERMAN— CROSS  CAPE  FEAR  RIVER— THE  FIGHT  AT  AVERYSBORO 
—CROSS  BLACK  CREEK— BATTLE  Oi-'  BENTONVILLE— CROSS  NEUSE  RIVER 
AT  COX'S  BRIDGE. 

THE  8th  of  March  found  the  Regiment  in  North  Carolina, 
having  crossed  the  line  the  afternoon  before.  It  rained 
hard  all  day,  and  after  marching  about  eight  miles  they  biv 
ouacked.  The  boys  seemed  to  understand  that  they  had  entered 
a  state  which  had  suffered  somewhat  for  its  Union  sentiments. 
The  conduct  of  Sherman's  soldiers  perceptibly  changed  during 
that  first  day's  march  into  the  state.  There  were  no  evidences  of 
plundering;  the  men  kept  their  ranks  better,  and  what  was  re 
markable,  not  a  single  column  of  fire  and  smoke  marked  the 
positions  of  the  different  lines  of  march,  as  had  been  the  case  in 
South  Carolina.  It  was  not  in  imagination  only  that  the  boys 
could  see  the  difference  between  the  two  states,  but  in  the  fences, 
the  bams  and  the  dwelling  houses.  The  fences  were  in  good 
order,  the  barns  and  dwelling  houses  well  built  and  cleanly,  and 
there  was  an  air  of  thrift  which  was  an  evidence  that  the  owners 
took  a  personal  interest  in  the  management  of  affairs. 

The  following  Rebel  letter  was  picked  up  at  Laurel  Hill :    "I 
say  agin  deer  Melindy  weer  fightin'  fur  our  libertis  to  dew  gest  as 


THE     123!)    REGIMENT.  167 

we  pleas,  and  we  wil  lite  fur  them  so  long  as  godlemitey  giv  us 
breth.  " 

March  9th  dawned  cool  and  pleasant,  and  the  boys  congrat 
ulated  themselves  on  having  a  good  day  for  marching,  but  before 
noon  it  commenced  raining,  and  kept  it  up  the  balance  of  the 
day  with  the  most  disagreeable  pertinacity.  Sometimes  the  rain 
would  come  down  in  perfect  torrents,  and  by  the  time  the  boys 
reached  camp  they  were  soaked  to  the  skin.  Having  made  roads 
and  waded  through  mud  and  streams,  they  marched  about  seven 
miles  and  pitched  camp  in  the  mud,  with  a  torrent  of  water 
drenching  everything  around  them,  and  especially  themselves. 
It  was  not  the  most  cheerful  business,  yet  there  was  no  help  for 
it.  Soon  large  fires  were  blazing  before  every  tent,  and  having 
dried  themselves  and  procured  their  accustomed  kettle  of  coffee, 
they  rolled  themselves  up  in  their  blankets  and  slept  as  well  as 
they  could  under  the  circumstances. 

March  loth  was  also  a  rainy  morning.  Nearly  the  first  move 
made  after  starting  on  their  march  was  to  wade  a  brook,  so  being 
wet  nearly  to  their  knees  on  the  start,  there  was  no  ''picking" 
the  road  that  day,  and  they  marched  right  through  mud  and 
water.  "  No  matter,  "  they  would  say,  "we  shall  be  in  camp 
by-and-by,  and  then,  before  our  roaring  fires,  we  will  rehearse 
the  incidents  of  the  day.  "  Thus  these  brave  boys  endured 
every  hardship,  shrank  at  no  exposure,  and  not  only  without 
grumbling,  but  with  a  good  humor  and  merriment  which  no 
hardship  dampened  and  no  risk  discouraged. 

March  nth  was  a  very  pleasant  morning,  to  the  great  delight 
of  the  boys,  and  the  roads  being  in  pretty  good  condition  they 
inarched  about  twenty  miles,  and  camped  about  two  miles  from 
Fayetteville.  One  of  the  foragers  belonging  to  the  Regiment  was 
found  dead  by  the  side  of  the  road.  His  name  we  do  not 
remember. 


1 68  REMINISCENCES    OF 

March  i2th  the  Regiment  lay  where  it  camped  the  night 
before,  and  here  the  boys  had  an  opportunity  of  sending  letters 
home. 

March  i3th  they  broke  camp  at  2  o'clock  p.  M.,  marched  into 
Fayetteville  and  passed  in  review  before  Sherman,  crossed  Cape 
Fear  river  on  pontoon  bridges  and  marched  some  five  miles  and 
camped.  Fayetteville  was  a  beautiful  city  before  the  destruction 
of  the  public  buildings.  The  arsenal  buildings  were  situated 
upon  a  commanding  eminence  on  the  west  side  of  the  city,  and 
presented  an  exceedingly  picturesque  appearance  ;  and,  taken 
together  with  the  old  buildings  buried  among  the  trees,  which  at 
that  time  were  putting  on  their  livery  of  green,  gave  the  place  a 
romantic  air.  An  ancient  market-house,  of  very  tasteful  architec 
ture,  stood  in  the  center  of  the  main  street,  which  was  a  wide 
avenue,  lined  on  either  side  with  substantial  stores  and  dwelling 
houses  :  and  towards  the  Cape  Fear  river  were  several  mills  and 
manufactories.  Charles  Dings,  Joseph  Laport,  members  of  Co. 
F,  and  two  other  soldiers,  were  taken  prisoners  while  foraging 
near  this  place. 

March  141)1  and  151!!  the  boys  drew  clothing,  which  they 
certainly  needed  very  much.  Oh,  how  ragged  they  were ! 
Some  had  but  one  sleeve  to  their  blouse,  others  with  both  sleeves 
gone,  while  still  others  had  no  blouse.  With  shoes  worn  out, 
pants  worn  and  hanging  in  shreds  from  the  knees  they  looked 
like  ragamuffins. 

The  Regiment  lay  where  they  camped  upon  the  night  of  the 
ijth  until  the  morning  of  the  i6tli,  when  they  pushed  on  again 
through  the  mud,  it  having  rained  hard  the  night  before.  After 
marching  about  four  miles  on  the  Cape  Fear  river  road,  which 
passes  through  Averysboro  direct  to  Raleigh,  cannonading  was 
heard  in  front.  Kilpatrick's  cavalry  was  ahead,  and  the  boys 
knew  that  he  was  engaging  the  Rebels  at  some  poiftt.  The  ist 


THE    I23D    KKG1MKNT.  169 

and  3d  Divisions  were  sent  forward  to  support  the  cavalry.  The 
hoys  found  the  Rebels  strongly  intrenched  behind  earthworks 
on  the  brow  of  a  hill,  skirted  by  a  ravine  and  creek.  The  i23d 
took  position  on  the  line,  and  were  then  moved  to  the  right  and 
flank  of  the  3d  Brigade.  The  Regiment  had  no  sooner  reached 
this  position,  Co.  E  being  thrown  out  as  skirmishers,  when  the 
Rebels  charged  the  cavalry  who  were  in  front.  The  cavalry  fell 
back,  and  this  gave  the  Regiment  a  chance  to  open  fire.  They 
poured  such  deadly  volleys  into  the  advancing  Rebel  ranks 
that  they  were  compelled  to  fall  back.  Our  artillery  at  about 
four  hundred  yards  distance  silenced  the  Rebel  guns.  After 
about  three  hours'  fighting  an  advance  was  ordered.  Through 
the  swamps  and  mud  they  went,  sometimes  in  water  two  or 
three  feet  deep,  driving  the  enemy  before  them  for  about  one 
mile,  when  they  came  upon  another  and  more  thoroughly  built 
line  of  works,  behind  which,  it  soon  became  evident,  the  Rebels 
lay  in  great  strength.  Co.  E  was  now  relieved  by  Co.  F.  Night 
came  on,  and  through  the  long  hours  the  boys  lay  in  the  pine 
forest,  with  guns  in  hand,  ready  to  repel  the  enemy  should  they 
charge,  or  to  advance  should  a  charge  be  ordered.  Now  and 
then  the  Rebel  cannon  v\;ould  belch  forth  grape  and  canister,  but 
with  no  serious  results  to  the  Regiment.  Above  all  could  be 
heard  the  wild  wind  singing  among  the  pine  tops,  while  now  and 
then  the  rain  would  sweep  down  in  passionate,  fitful  showers 
upon  the  unprotected  heads  of  the  soldiers.  The  early  morning 
of  the  i  yth  found  the  Rebel  intrenchments  evacuated,  they 
having  escaped  in  the  night,  leaving  their  pickets  to  be  taken 
prisoners.  This  was  the  battle  of  Averysboro,  in  which  the  Reg 
iment  lost  five  men — Sergeant  Peter  Boushe  and  private  Patrick 
McKinna  of  Co.  E,  and  three  others  wounded.  In  this  fight 
the  Division  to  which  the  Regiment  belonged  captured  three 
guns  and  two  hundred  and  seventeen  prisoners,  of  which  sixty- 
eiorht  were  wounded  and  left  in  a  house.  One  hundred  and  eight 


I7O  REMINISCENCES    OF 

dead  Rebels  were  buried.  And  yet  Averysboro  is  not  put  down 
in  history  as  a  battle,  but  simply  a  skirmish.  We  will  say,  how 
ever,  it  was  a  very  lively  skirmish. 

The  morning  of  the  lyth  the  Regiment  marched  out  into  the 
road  at  7  o'clock,  and  there  remained  until  sundown  waiting  for 
the  train  to  pass,  then  pushed  on  and  bivouacked  at  midnight. 

The  1 8th  they  broke  camp  at  6  o'clock  A.  M.,  marched  through 
mud  and  water  all  day,  fording  Black  Creek  through  water  four 
feet  deep,  and  bivouacked  late  at  night.  Although  marching 
was  bad,  the  air  was  deliciously  pleasant,— full  of  the  balmy  in 
fluences  of  spring.  The  trees  felt  it,  and  the  peach  and  apple 
trees  were  full  of  their  delicate  pink  and  white  blossoms. 

The  morning  of  the  i9th  was  pleasant,  and  the  Regiment  was 
early  on  the  march.  They  had  probably  proceeded  seven  miles 
on  the  Smithfiekl  road,  when  cannonading  was  heard  in  front. 
The  Regiment  was  pushed  forward  on  the  double-quick  for 
nearly  a  mile,  when  they  came  upon  the  scene  of  action,  in  a 
large  open  field,  skirted  by  a  thick  wood  in  which  the  enemy 
were  posted.  Coming  on  the  field,  the  Regiment  filed  to  the 
left  through  a  gap  in  a  rail  fence.  Many  of  the  boys  as  they 
passed  seized  a  rail  and  took  it  with  them  to  the  edge  of  a  piece 
of  woods,  where  they  formed  line  of  battle,  and  then  went  rapid 
ly  to  work  throwing  up  a  sort  of  breastwork.  They  did  not  re 
main  long  in  this  position,  however,  but  were  ordered  further  to 
the  right  and  to  the  rear  of  the  line  of  battle  to  support  a  battery. 
In  this  position  they  remained  until  just  at  night,  when  they  re 
lieved  a  regiment  of  the  3d  Brigade,  which  had  been  engaged  in 
the  front  line. 

The  battery  which  the  Regiment  supported  was  on  a  knoll  just 
in  rear  of  the  line  of  battle,  and  the  fight  in  front  was  witnessed 
by  the  boys.  Once  a  regiment  in  the  front  line  broke,  seeming 
not  to  have  any  commanding  officer.  The  men  were  retreating, 


THE     I  23D    REGIMENT.  I  7  I 

when  from  some  other  regiment  in  the  line  an  officer  was  seen 
riding  directly  for  the  retreating  colors.  These  he  halted,  and  the 
color  bearer  planted  the  colors  firmly  in  the  ground.  The  officer 
then  rose  in  his  stirrups,  and  waving  his  sword  and  hat  rallied 
the  regiment.  Every  one  of  that  retreating  regiment  rallied  to 
the  colors,  took  their  places,  and  were  marched  back  on  the 
double-quick  to  their  position  on  the  line  and  there  remained. 
It  was  handsomely  done.  The  writer  does  not  know  whether 
the  officer  was  the  Colonel  of  the  regiment  or  an  officer  belong 
ing  to  some  other  regiment,  but  he  does  know  that  the  regiment 
rallied  in  fine  style,  and  went  back  into  the  fight  on  the  double- 
quick.  From  the  position  of  things  as  they  appeared  on  coming 
on  the  field  it  would  seem  that  the  ammunition  train  had  halted 
for  the  night,  and  it  was  this  the  Rebels  were  striving  to  reach. 
Such  a  hustling  among  the  teamsters  we  never  saw  before.  The 
wounded  who  were  being  carried  along  in  wagons  were  handled 
rather  roughly,  being  pitched  into  the  ambulances  and  army 
wagons  most  any  way,  and  the  teamsters  proceeded  to  the  rear 
as  soon  as  their  mules  could  take  them  there. 

The  boys  lay  on  their  arms  all  night,  occasionally  firing  with 
the  enemy,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  2oth  it  was  found  that 
the  enemy  had  disappeared,  leaving  their  pickets  to  fall  into  our 
hands  and  their  dead  unburied.  Several  went  out  in  front  and 
brought  in  a  number  of  wounded  Rebels.  One  Rebel  who  was 
severely  wounded  would  not  accept  of  help.  He  said  he  would 
die  rather  than  accept  of  a  favor  from  a  Yank,  and  he  was  as 
good  as  his  word  for  he  did  not  accept  of  even  a  drink  of  water, 
and  died  in  the  afternoon.  An  examination  in  front  of  the  line 
of  battle  revealed  the  fact  that  the  battery  which  the  i23d  had 
supported  did  good  execution,  and  especially  was  this  so  on  the 
road  through  the  wood.  Under  one  tree  lay  in  death's  cold  em 
brace  some  eight  or  ten  dead  Rebels,  and  all  along  the  road  for 


172  REMINISCENCES    OF 

some  distance  the  Rebels  lay  dead  in  twos  and  threes.  The 
2oth  was  devoted  to  burying  the  dead.  Gen.  Slocum  reported 
the  loss  of  the  left  wing  about  Bentonville  at  nine  officers  and 
one  hundred  and  forty-five  men  killed,  fifty-one  officers  and 
eight  hundred  and  sixteen  men  wounded,  and  three  officers  and 
two  hundred  and  twenty-three  men  missing — -taken  prisoners  by 
the  enemy.  Total,  one  thousand  two  hundred  and  forty-seven. 
He  buried  on  the  field  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  Rebel  dead, 
and  took  three  hundred  and  thirty-eight  prisoners.  Gen.  How 
ard  reported  the  loss  of  the  right  wing  at  two  officers  and  thirty- 
five  men  killed,  twelve  officers  and  two  hundred  and  eighty-nine 
men  wounded,  and  one  officer  and  sixty  men  missing.  Total, 
three  hundred  and  ninety-nine.  He  also  buried  one  hundred 
Rebel  dead,  and  took  one  thousand  two  hundred  and  eighty- 
seven  prisoners.  It  will  therefore  be  seen  that  the  battle  of  Ben 
tonville  was  quite  a  fight,  although  the  i2$d  Regiment  escaped, 
remarkable  as  it  may  seem.  The  number  of  the  Rebel  wounded 
must  have  been  much  larger  than  the  Union,  for  the  artillery 
did  terrible  execution,  and  the  Rebel  dead  on  the  field  out  num 
bered  the  Union  dead  by  seventy-six.  But  it  rained  hard  the 
2Oth,  of  course,  as  it  most  always  did  after  a  fight. 

The  2ist  the  Regiment  moved  out  of  their  breastworks  which 
they  had  constructed,  and  advanced  as  far  as  the  picket  line, 
but  were  soon  ordered  back  to  their  works.  At  8  o'clock  in  the 
morning  of  the  22d  they  moved  out  of  their  works,  ami  taking 
the  road  leading  to  Cox's  Bridge  on  the  Neuss  river,  made  about 
twelve  miles,  and  bivouacked  for  the  night  near  Falling  Creek. 
The  23d  they  crossed  Falling  Creek  and  pushed  on,  passing 
some  of  the  25th  Army  Corps,  colored  troops,  also  troops 
belonging  to  the  4th,  23d  and  24th  Army  Corps.  Crossing 
Neuse  river  at  Cox's  Bridge  they  marched  several  miles  further 
and  camped  for  the  night  in  the  pine  woods. 


THE     I23J)     REGIMENT.  173 

The  24th  of  March,  1865,  the  Regiment  marched  into  the 
city  of  Goldsboro  and  passed  in  review  before  Gen.  Sherman, 
and,  marching  some  distance  out  of  the  city,  camped  on  the 
Welden  and  Wilmington  railroad.  Thus  after  ten  months  of 
ceaseless  marching,  working  and  fighting,  Sherman's  army 
reached  the  city  of  Goldsboro,  and  camped  about  it,  upon  the 
hillsides  and  in  the  sweet  scented  pine  forests  to  rest  and  refresh 
themselves. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 


THE  REGIMENT  IN  CAMP  AT  GOLDSBORO—  THE  "BUMMERS"  CALLED 
IN—THE  RALEIGH  0AM  PAIGN—  THE  REGIMENT  ON  THE  SKIRMISH  LINE 
—IN  WATER  UP  TO  THEIR  HIPS—  SKIRMISH  AT  MOCCASIN  CREEK—  THE 
REGIMENT  CHARGES  THE  REBELS—  THE  LAST  MAN  KILLED  IN  THE 
REGIMENT—  IN  CAMP  AT  SMITHFIELD—  NEWS  OF  LEE'S  SURRENDER- 
REACH  RALEIGH. 


rT^HK  25th  of  March  the  Regiment  moved  camp  to  near  a 
|_  place  called  Scottsville,  two  miles  north  of  Goldsboro. 
The  26th  was  a  happy  day  for  the  boys,  for  they  drew  full  rations 
arid  received  a  mail.  The  2yth  they  again  shifted  camp  to  a 
better  location.  The  28th  the  Regiment  was  mustered  for  pay. 
Orders  were  issued  for  all  foraging  to  stop,  and  for  the  "bum 
mers''  to  return  to  their  respective  companies,  and  orders  were 
issued  to  turn  over  all  extra  animals.  It  rained  hard  the  night 


1  74  REMINISCENCES    OF 

of  the  29th,  and  the  morning  of  the  3<oth  the  Regiment  again 
moved  camp.  The  31  st  was  occupied  in  fixing  up  their  tents 
and  grounds.  April  2d  was  Sunday,  religious  services  being 
held  in  the  open  air  by  Chaplain  White,  nearly  the  entire  Regi 
ment  attending.  Long  before  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the 
loth  the  hum  and  stir  around  camp  unmistakably  indicated  that 
the  "  raiders''  were  about  to  move  again.  Just  at  the  first  glim 
mer  of  daylight  the  rattling  of  drums  and  the  clear  note  of  num 
berless  bugles  call  the  troops  into  line.  Out  to  the  color  line 
they  march.  "Shoulder  arms!"  "Right  dress!''  "Front!" 
"Right  face  !"  "Right  shoulder  shift !"  "Forward  !"  and  with 
faces  towards  Raleigh  they  commence  their  march.  They  follow 
the  same  road  over  which  they  passed  to  enter  Goldsboro  a  few 
days  previous,  some  seven  miles.  There  they  bore  to  the  right 
on  the  Smithfield  road, — the  roads  being  in  a  very  good  condi 
tion,  weather  fine,  but  threatening  rain.  The  enemy's  pickets 
were  finally  run  upon,  when  the  i2$d  Regiment  was  deployed 
as  skirmishers,  and  drove  them  back  for  five  miles  without  a 
halt.  Such  was  the  unceremonious  haste  of  the  boys  that  a 
nice  hot  dish  of  hoe-cake  and  a  kettle  of  beans  had  to  be  left 
untasted  by  the  retreating  "Johnnies."  Swamps,  dense  and 
deep  favored  the  enemy  at  several  points,  but  the  men  crawled, 
waded  and  floundered  through  the  tangled  roots  and  vines,  and 
drove  the  enemy  from  a  line  of  works  erected  at  the  opposite 
side  of  the  marsh.  A  mile  further  on  they  came  to  Moccasin 
creek,  a  wide,  deep  stream,  and  rendered,  still  worse  by  the 
enemy's  cutting  a  dam  a  mile  above  the  crossing  point,  which 
overflowed  the  banks.  But  without  hesitation  the  boys  waded  in 
and  suceeded  after  a  hard  struggle  of  an  hour  in  reaching  the 
first  bank  of  the  stream.  On  the  opposite  side  the  enemy  were 
intrenched,  having  torn  the  planks  off  of  the  only  bridge  over  a 
stream  at  least  twenty  feet  in  depth.  On  the  edge  of  this  stream 
the  boys  stood  in  the  water  waist  deep  and  kept  up  a  hot  fire  on 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  175 

the  enemy  for  an  hour.  Many  of  the  men  had  to  hold  up  their 
cartridge  boxes  to  keep  their  ammunition  from  getting  wet,  and 
some  of  the  short  men  had  to  place  their  cartridge  boxes  on  their 
shoulders.  We  can  safely  say  that  not  a  man  was  in  water  less 
than  knee  deep,  while  the  most  were  deeper.  Now  this  manner 
of  fighting  required  the  very  staunchest  sort  of  pluck,  and  a 
good  deal  of  it,  too,  but  not  a  single  man  retreated,  or  acted 
otherwise  than  in  the  bravest  manner.  William  H.  Toohey  of 
Co.  K,  was  killed,  (the  last  man  killed  in  the  Regiment,)  David 
Irvin  of  Co.  F,  and  Silas  Orrnsby  of  Co.  B,  and  two  or  three 
others  from  the  Regiment  wounded.  At  last  it  was  decided  to 
charge  the  enemy,  and  with  a  yell,  over  the  boys  rushed,  crossing 
on  the  narrow  stringers  some  thirty  feet  in  length,  and  causing 
the  Rebels  to  "dust  out.'''  They  were  met  with  a  terrible  fire 
from  the  enemy  while  crossing,  but  fortunately  no  one  was  hit. 
The  enemy  being  evidently  bewildered  and  astounded  by  the 
rashness  of  the  move,  failed  to  aim  true.  Having  crossed  the 
stream,  the  boys  were  again  compelled  to  wade  in  water  up  to 
their  hips.  Advancing  steadily  through  the  water,  they  finally 
reached  dry  ground  and  saw  the  Rebels  in  full  sight.  Giving 
them  a  volley  the  Rebels  retreated,  leaving  behind  them  two 
killed  and  six  wounded.  Arriving  on  a  knoll  the  Regiment 
halted.  Two  or  three  of  the  boys,  being  somewhat  in  advance, 
discovered  an  object  moving  behind  a  rail  fence  in  front,  the 
position  last  occupied  by  the  Rebels,  and  supposing  a  Rebel  or 
two  was  there  and  wanted  to  come  in,  sang  out,  "come  in, 
Johnnie  Reb,  we  won't  fire/''  The  shout  was  repeated,  and  no 
response,  when  one  of  the  boys  advanced  and  discovered  the 
supposed  Rebel  to  be  half  a  dozen  little  pigs  and  their  mother. 
The  boys  considered  it  a  good  joke,  and  enjoyed  a  hearty  laugh. 
The  Regiment  pusned  on  in  line  of  battle  and  camped  for  the 
night  at  about  4  o'clock,  wet  and  tired,  for  it  had  been  an  exci 


176  REMINISCENCES    OF 

ing  day  to  them.      Soon  large  fires  were  blazing,  made  from  dry 
rails,  of  which  there  was  a  good  supply. 

April  nth  the  Regiment  did  not  move  out  of  camp  until  11 
o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  for  having  been  on  the  lead  the  day 
before,  it  was  their  fortune,  or  misfortune,  to  be  in  the  rear  on 
the  iith.  They  moved  rapidly  all  day,  and  camped  for  the 
night  on  the  road  leading  to  Smithfield,  and  near  the  place. 
The  country  through  which  they  traveled  was  rich  in  corn  and 
fodder,  notwithstanding  its  recent  occupation  by  the  Rebel  ar 
my.  Handsome  two-story  houses  were  the  homes  of  the  owners 
of  the  most  prolific  farms  in  the  Southern  country. 

April  1 2th  the  Regiment  broke  camp  at  8  o'clock,  and  were 
in  line  ready  to  march  when  Lieut.  Harvey  Bosworth  rode  along 
the  line,  and  gave  the  information  that  Lee  had  surrendered. 
The  boys  went  wild  with  excitement  when  this  glorious  result 
was  announced.  They  gave  cheer  after  cheer  to  express  their 
joy,  and  then,  when  cheers  became  too  feeble  an  expression, 
uttered  yeli  upon  yell,  until  they  waked  the  echoes  for  miles 
around.  Then  the  bands  burst  forth  in  swelling  strains  of  pat 
riotic  melody,  which  the  soldiers  caught  up  and  re-echoed  with 
their  voices.  Hats,  caps,  cracker  boxes,  knapsacks  and  haver 
sacks  were  thrown  high  in  the  air,  and  small  colored  boys  were 
tossed  high  in  blankets.  Everybody  was  glad,  everbody  rejoiced, 
and  the  boys  of  the  i23d,  especially,  were  in  ecstacies,  for  they 
knew  what  the  old  Potomac  army  was,  by  experience,  and  their 
old  comrades  had  gained  what  they  had  so  long  and  unsuccess 
fully  struggled  for.  With  light  steps  and  eager  hearts  the  boys 
commenced  their  day's  march, — marching  with  the  elation  of 
victory.  Along  the  ranks  the  soldier  shouted  to  his  comrade, 
"We  must  push  old  Johnson  now.  "  Marching  through  Smith- 
field  they  crossed  Neuse  river,  and  camped  about  3  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon.  Orders  came  soon  after  stacking  arms  to  go  to 


THE     I2JD    REGIMENT.  177 

the  support  of  Kilpatrick,  who  had  run  into  the  Rebels.  The 
Regiment  pushed  on  about  one  mile  and  was  then  ordered 
back. 

April  1 3th  the  Regiment  marched  into  Raleigh,  the  "City  of 
Oaks,  "  about  noon,  and  moved  to  the  south-east  side  and  halted 
near  the  lunatic  asylum,  which  at  that  time  contained  one  hun 
dred  and  ninety  lunatics.  The  boys  expected  Johnson  would 
certainly  make  a  stand  here,  for  the  report  was  that  he  had 
thrown  up  very  elaborate  works  about  the  town.  But  when  at 
1 1  o'clock  they  came  in  sight  of  the  town  and  saw  the  Union 
ilag  waving  over  the  capitol,  they  knew  the  Rebel  capitol  had 
been  captured.  The  city  is  small,  situated  on  a  high  ridge, 
pleasantly  and  regularly  laid  out,  with  fine  shade  trees  on  both 
sides  of  the  streets,  which  are  broad  and  clean.  The  buildings 
were  all  old,  and  but  few  business  places  wrere  to  be  seen. 

Everything  was  quiet  in  and  about  camp  the  I4th,  the  topic  of 
conversation  being  the  probability  of  Johnson's  surrender.  Sev 
eral  of  Johnson's  men  were  seen  on  their  wray  to  their  desolate 
homes. 

April  1 5th  the  boys  had  orders  to  be  in  readiness  to  move  at 
6  o'clock,  but  the  hour  came  and  passed  and  they  did  not  move, 
for  the  reason,  probably,  that  Gen.  Sherman  had  received  a  let 
ter  from  Gen.  Johnson,  asking  if  some  arrangement  could  not 
be  effected,  which  would  prevent  the  further  useless  effusion  of 
blood.  Rained  hard  all  day. 

Sunday,  April  i6th,  everything  wras  quiet  during  the  day,  but 
at  10  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  camp  wras  aroused  by  loud 
cheering  in  the  direction  of  the  city,  and  the  news  soon  came 
that  Johnson  was  to  surrender  at  8  o'clock  the  next  day.  There 
was  but  very  little  sleep  for  the  boys  that  night,  for  they  knew  if 
this  was  the  case  the  next  move  would  be  for  home.  Home ! 


REMINISCENCES  OF 


No  wonder  the  boys  could  not  sleep.  To  think  that  after  nearly 
three  long  years  of  fighting,  marching  and  suffering,  they  were 
about  to  turn  their  faces  towards  HOME  ! 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

THE  REGIMENT  AT  RALEIrtH— REPORT  OF  LINCOLN'S  ASSASSINATION— 
JOHNSON  SURRENDERS— THE  MARCH  FOR  HOME— REACH  THE  SOUTH - 
SIDE  RAILROAD— THE  COMMON  SOLDIER. 

AMID  the  stirring  April  days  of  1865,  while  spring  grass 
and  greening  boughs  proclaimed  that  summer  was  draw 
ing  nigh,  the  boys  anxiously  awaited  the  final  arrangements  be 
tween  Sherman  and  Johnson.  The  morning  of  April  iyth  came 
at  last,  after  an  exciting  night,  caused  by  the  news  that  Johnson 
\vas  to  surrender  at  8  o'clock.  The  day  wore  away  without  their 
hearing  of  Johnson's  surrender,  but  other  news  reached  the  ar 
my,  which  never  before  had  been  so  shaken  with  pain,  and  grief 
and  righteous  indignation — the  news  that  Abraham  Lincoln  had 
been  assassinated.  Sorrow  was  seen  on  the  face  of  every  soldier, 
and  the  talk  of  surrender  gave  way  to  expressions  of  sorrow  at  the 
death  of  the  beloved  President.  All  the  bloom  of  spring  around, 
the  thought  that  the  bloody  strife  had  virtually  ended,  could 
bring  no  flush  to  their  changed  countenances,  for  over  all  there 
brooded  a  sorrow  as  if  the  most  revered  had  fallen,  as  if  the  shock 


THE     I23D    REGIMENT.  1 79 

of  personal  bereavement  had  smitten  separately  every  soldier, 
and  embittered  every  heart  toward  the  Rebels,  to  whom  they 
attributed  the  murder. 

April  1 8th  was  brigade  inspection  day,  and  the  rumor  reached 
camp  that  the  President  had  not  been  assassinated,  but  the  report 
was  unfounded.  The  Regiment  was  detailed  to  forage  for 
grain,  which  did  not  look  much  to  them  like  a  surrender  by 
Johnson. 

At  7  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  April  igth  the  Regiment 
moved  out  of  camp  and  marched  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  to 
Jones'  cross  roads,  filled  the  wagons  with  corn  and  fodder  and 
marched  back  to  within  seven  miles  of  Raleigh  and  bivouacked. 

By  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  2Oth  they  were  on  the  road, 
and  on  reaching  camp  their  hearts  were  gladdened  by  the  rumor 
that  in  a  few  days  they  were  to  take  up  their  march  for  home. 

The  morning  of  the  23d  dawned  with  all  the  beauty  God 
could  bestow.  The  mocking  bird  sang  in  the  tree  tops,  and  not 
a  sound  was  heard  save  the  singing  of  the  birds,  and  the  merry 
laugh  of  some  joyful  soldier.  The  day  wears  away  without  or 
ders  or  rumors  of  any  kind. 

The  insane  asylum  was  but  a  short  distance  from  camp,  and 
the  boys  spent  many  hours  lounging  around  the  building,  watch 
ing  the  poor  victims  as  they  appeared  at  the  windows.  Gen. 
Sherman  visited  the  asylum  one  day,  and  one  of  the  few  who 
showed  evidences  of  intellect,  even  if  it  were  a  disordered  one, 
demanded  his  "walking  papers,"  as  he  had  been  there  long 
enough.  The  General  told  him  that  when  his  papers  came  to 
him  in  regular  shape  he  would  attend  to  them.  "Meanwhile," 
said  the  General,  "put  your  faith  in  God."  "In  God?"  an 
swered  the  man,  fixing  his  keen  eye  on  the  General.  "Yes,  in 
God  ;  you  certainly  believe  in  His  power  ?''  The  man,  who  had 
been  born  and  reared  in  Massachusetts,  replied:  "In  God? 


l8o  REMINISCENCES    OF 

Well,  I  think  I  do  believe  in  a  sort  of  Divine  Providence,  hat 
when  it  comes  to  the  question  of  power,  it  strikes  me  Unit  for  a 
man  who  has  been  walking  about  over  the  country  whipping 
these  cursed  Rebels,  you  have  a  d — d  sight  more  power  than 
anybody  I  know  of.  " 

The  22d  occurred  something  which  caused  the  boys  to  think 
that  for  them  the  war  might  not  be  ended,  and  that  was  a  review 
of  the  army  by  Gen.  Sherman.  'They  always  expected  some 
movement  after  a  review,  and  as  a  general  thing  a  skirmish  or  a 
fight  followed  a  move. 

Sunday,  April  23d,  everything  was  quiet,  but  Monday,  the 
24th,  after  inspection,  came  orders  to  be  ready  to  move  at  a  mo 
ment's  notice.  All  sorts  of  rumors  were  in  circulation,  the 
most  of  them  being  to  the  effect  that  they  had  to  go  and  fight 
Johnson.  They  knew  that  Gen.  Grant  was  in  the  city  with  Sher 
man,  but  whether  his  presence  meant  fight  they  did  not  know. 
A  soldier  from  Co.  E,  Philo  Smith  by  name,  was  laid  away  in 
his  last  resting  place. 

Tuesday  morning,  April  25th,  the  order  came  to  "fall  in." 
By  7  o'clock  they  were  on  the  road,  and  taking  a  southwest 
course  from  Raleigh,  reached  Holly  Springs,  a  distance  of  about 
twelve  miles,  and  halted.  The  Rebels  were  in  front,  but  every 
thing  was  quiet.  Rumors  were  rife  of  Johnson's  surrender,  but 
the  boys  knew  nothing  positively. 

The  26th  the  boys  learned  for  a  certainty  that  Johnson  had 
surrendered  his  army  of  thirty-seven  thousand  soldiers.  There 
was  great  rejoicing  among  the  soldiers.  "What  will  be  the  next 
move?"  says  one.  "The  march  home,"  is  the  reply.  The 
sick  were  sent  to  the  hospital. 

The  28th  the  Regiment  moved  back  to  camp  at  Raleigh, 
reaching  there  at  2  o'clock  P.  M.  After  reaching  camp  orders 
came  to  pick  up  and  pack  up,  and  be  ready  to  march  for  home 
on  the  3oth. 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT. 


iSl 


The  day  of  the  2yth  was  spent  in  "skirmishing,"  but  of 
a  peculiar  warfare.  The  boys  were  not  in  quest  of  Rebels,  but 
of  an  enemy  they  dreaded  about  as  much — the  "graybacks"  the 
hoys  called  them.  And  these  "graybacks"  were  no  respecters  of 
persons,  for  they  would  attack  an  officer  just  as  soon  as  they 
would  a  private,  and  all  day  long  the  zgth  officers  and  soldiers 
were  to  be  seen  seated  on  stumps  and  stones,  skirmishing  for 
graybacks.  And  the  i2$d  gained  another  glorious  victory. 

A  lovelier  morning  never  dawned  than  on  April  3Oth,  the  day 
that  was  to  see  the  boys  shoulder  their  knapsacks,  and  with  faces 
turned  northward,  commence  their  tramp,  tramp,  tramp  for 
home.  At  daylight  the  Regiment  broke  camp,  marched  out  in 
to  the  road  and  commenced  the  day's  march,  halting  for  dinner 
near  Neuse  river.  After  dinner  they  crossed  the  river  near  For 
est  Mills,  marched  two  miles  from  the  river  and  camped  for  the 
night. 

May  ist  the  Regiment  broke  camp  at  8  o'clock  A.  M.  and 
marched  to  Tar  river,  a  distance  of  about  sixteen  miles,  and 
camped  for  the  night  at  6  o'clock. 

May  2d  the  Regiment  commenced  the  march  at  7  o'clock. 
Crossed  Tar  river,  on  through  Sand  Fork,  passed  near  Oxford, 
N.  C.,  and  camped  for  the  night  after  marching  a  distance  of 
twenty  miles.  The  boys  really  enjoyed  this  marching,  but  the 
only  trouble  was  they  did  not  march  far  enough  each  day.  They 
wanted  to  march  rapidly,  for  their  great  desire  was  to  see  home. 
But  they  knew  there  was  no  enemy  in  front, — no  danger,  and 
they  were  happy  and  contented. 

May  3d  they  commenced  their  march  at  about  5  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  By  8  o'clock  they  moved  through  Williamsburgh, 
and  struck  the  Clarksville  and  Gaston  railroad, -which  had  been 
destroyed.  Pushing  on,  they  passed  Townsendville,  and  crossed 
the  Ronnoke  river  at  Taylor's  Ferry.  The  stream  was  six  hun- 


I  82  KEMINISCENCKS    OF 

dred  and  eighty  feet  wide,  and  it  took  thirty-three  pontoons  to 
make  the  bridge.  After  crossing  the  river,  the  Regiment  halted 
for  the  night,  having  made  about  sixteen  miles.  Seated  around 
the  camp  fire  after  a  day's  march,  the  topic  of  conversation  was 
home  and  the  friends  and  loved  ones  looking  for  their  return. 
The  names  of  companions  \vould  be  mentioned,  whom  they 
had  left  behind  on  some  battle-field—companions  of  many  'a 
toilsome  march  and  hasty  bivouac.  Many  were  the  regrets  ex 
pressed  that  they  had  not  lived  to  see  the  glad  ending.  They 
paid  the  absent  ones  fitting  tribute,  and  who  could  do  this  better 
than  the  soldier  who  has  stood  side  by  side  with  the  departed, 
hour  by  hour,  day  by  day,  year  after  year,  in  storms  and  sun 
shine,  on  the  march  or  in  the  cloud  of  battle,  in  the  bivouac,  or 
at  the  moment  of  sudden  death. 

May  4th  they  were  on  the  wing  again  at  8  o'clock  in  the  mor 
ning.  At  12  o'clock  they  halted,  and  were  given  thirty  minutes 
for  dinner.  After  procuring  a  cup  of  hot  coffee  they  were  ready 
to  push  on  again.  Crossing  the  Mahern  river  they  pushed  on 
about  one  mile  and  bivouacked  for  the  night,  making  in  all 
about  twenty-two  miles.  The  boys  were  well  satisfied  with  this 
day's  march,  and  after  procuring  their  usual  cup  of  coffee,  and 
enjoying  a  smoke  and  chat,  lay  down  to  dream  of  home  and 
loved  ones. 

May  5th  they  passed  through  South  Hill  District  at  about  8 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  at  1 1  o'clock  struck  the  Boynton 
plank  road  running  to  Petersburgh.  After  marching  about 
twenty  miles  they  struck  the  Nottaway  river  and  camped. 

By  7  o'clock  May  6th  the  boys  were  in  their  harness  ready  and 
eager  for  the  day's  march.  Crossing  Nottaway  river  they  pushed 
on,  passing  Black  and  White  Station  on  theSouthside  railroad, 
and  to  Wellsville  where  they  halted  for  the  night,  having  marched 
about  sixteen  miles. 


THE     I23J)    RKGIMKNT.  183 

[SELECTED,] 

THE  COMMON   SOLDIER. 


.Nobody  cared,  when  he  went  to  war, 

But  the  womau  who  cried  oil  his  shoulder; 

Nobody  decked  him  with  immortelles; 
He  was  only  a  common  soldier. 

Nobody  packed  in  a  dainty  trunk 

Folded  raiment  arid  officer's  fare; 
A  knapsack  held  all  the  new  recruit 

Alight  own,  or  love,  or  eat,  or  wear, 

.Nobody  gave  him  a  good-by  fete, 

With  the  spaikliug  jest  and  flower  crowned  wine.; 
Two  or  three  friends  on  the  sidewalk  stood, 
Watching  for  Jones,  the  fourth  in  line. 

Nobody  cared  how  the  battle  went 

With  the  man  that  fought  till  the  bullet  sped 

Through  the  coat  undecked  with  leaf  or  star, 
On  a  common  soldier  left  for  dead. 

The  cool  rain  bathed  the  fevered  wound, 

And  the  kind  clouds  wept  the  livelong  nighl; 

A  pitying  lotion  Nature  gave, 

Till  help  might  come  with  the  morning  light— 

-Such  help  as  the  knife  of  the  surgeon  gives, 
Cleaving  the  gallant  arm  from  shoulder; 

And  another  name  swells  the  pension  list, 
i'or  the  meagre  pay  of  the  common  soldier. 

See,  over  yonder  all  day  he  stands — 

And  an  empty  sleeve  in  the  eolt  wind  sways, 

As  he  holds  his  lonely  left  hand  out 
i<  or  charity  at  the  crossing  ways. 

And  this  is  how,  with  bitter  shame, 

He  begs  his  bread,  and  hardly  lives; 
So  wearily  ekes  out  the  sum 

A  proud  and  grateful  country  gives. 

•What  matter  how  he  served  the  guns 

When  plume  and  rash  were  over  yonder? 

What  matter  though  he  bore  the  flag 
Through  blinding  smoke  and  battle  thunder, 

What  matter  that  a  wile  and  child 

Cry  softly  for  that  good  arm  rent  ? 
And  wonder  why  that  random  shot 

To  him,  their  own  beloved,  was  sent. 

•O  patriot  hearts,  wipe  out  this  stain; 

Give  jeweled  cup  and  sword  no  mote; 
.But  let  no  common  soldier  blush 
To  own  the  loyal  blue  he  wore,. 


184  REMINISCENCES    OF 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

THE  HOMEWARD  MARCH— ACROSS  THE  APPOMATTOX— ARRIVAL  AT  RICH 
MOND—ON  THE  OLD  SPOTTSYLVANIA  BATTLE  FIELD— THE  HALT  ON  THE 
CH  \NCELLORSVILLE  BATTLE  FIELD— PASS  FAIRFAX  STATION— CAMP  AT 
BERK'S  STATION. 

MAY  7th  the  Regiment  was  on  the  move  by  7  o'clock  A. 
M.,  being  guard  for  the  wagon  train.  Crossed  the  Ap- 
pomattox  river  at  3  o'clock  p.  M.  ,  and  moving  up  to  the  coal 
mines  not  far  from  the  river,  camped  for  the  night  at  Clover  Hill. 
May  8th  they  camped  at  Falling  Creek,  after  having  marched 
about  nineteen  miles,  and  May  Qth  camped  near  Manchester  after 
marching  only  about  six  miles. 

May  1 1  th  the  boys  were  up  early,  brushing  up  accoutrements 
and  clothing,  for  it  was  understood  they  were  to  march  through 
Richmond,  and  they  desired  to  look  as  well  as  they  could.  But 
at  best  they  were  a  "seedy"  looking  body  of  men,  but  happy 
and  jovial.  Filing  out  of  camp  they  marched  through  Man 
chester,  which  was  guarded  by  colored  troops.  The  streets  were 
crowded  with  soldiers  and  citizens  who  manifested  their  delight 
at  seeing  Sherman's  veterans  by  cheering  most  lustily.  Crossing 
the  James  river  the  line  of  march  led  by  Libby  Prison  and  Castle 
Thunder,  even  the  names  of  which  will  cause  many  a  soldier  to 
shudder  when  he  thinks  of  the  tortures  endured  in  one  or  both 


THE     123D    REGIMENT.  185 

of  these  prisons,  presided  over  by  that  fiend  in  human  form, 
Turner.  They  marched  through  Richmond,  passing  in  review 
before  Gens.  Sherman,  Hal  leek,  and  others.  The  streets  were 
crowded  with  people,  the  greater  portion  of  them  being  colored. 
"Wot  de  debbil  am  dis  yer  comin',"  says  one.  "Dey  looks 
like  dey  was  gwyn  to  dat  happy  Ian'  but  been  mighty  long  time 
gettin'  dar."  Marching  out  of  the  city  about  four  miles,  and 
outside  of  the  immense  fortifications,  they  camped  for  the  night. 
The  boys  had  just  got  their  tents  up  when  there  came  on  one  of 
the  most  terrible  rain  storms  they  had  ever  witnessed.  The 
thunder  was  one  continuous  roar,  and  the  lightning  lit  up  the 
heavens  as  in  one  livid  flame.  A  terrible  wind  accompanied  the 
rain,  and  nearly  every  tent  was  leveled  to  the  ground.  But  little 
sleep  for  the  boys  that  night. 

May  1 2th  the  Regiment,  being  guard  for  the  train,  did  not 
break  camp  until  9  o'clock.  They  crossed  Chickahominy  creek 
and  swamp  soon  after  starting,  and  moved  on  to  Ashland,  a  very 
pretty  village  on  the  R.  &  F.  R.  R. .  crossed  the  corner  of  the 
Peninsula,  on  to  and  across  South  Anne  river,  and  camped  about 
one  mile  and  a  half  from  the  river. 

Mav  1 2th,  broke  camp  about  5  o'clock  in  the  morning,  being 
on  the  lead.  They  crossed  Little  creek,  the  Virginia  Central 
railroad,  and  went  into  camp  at  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  after 
having  marched  about  sixteen  miles. 

Sunday,  May  ijth,  they  made  another  early  start;  marched 
some  twenty  miles  and  camped  at  2  o'clock  p.  M.  ,  within  about 
ten  miles  of  Spottsylvania  Court  House. 

May  25th  they  moved  out  of  camp  at  an  early  hour,  through 
the  village  and  over  the  battle  field  of  Spottsylvania.  Although 
about  two  years  had  elapsed  since  the  battle,  the  evidences  of  that 
terrible  conflict  were  plainly  visible  on  every  hand.  At  one  place 
a  large  trench  had  been  dug  for  the  purpose  of  burying  the  dead, 
and  the  skeletons  of  soldiers  lay  on  the  edges  of  the  pit  unbur- 


I  86  REMINISCENT KS    OF 

ied.  Flight  must  have  prevented  their  burial,  for  there  they 
had  lain  for  two  years,  bleaching  under  the  blaze  of  a  Southern 
sun.  The  fowls  of  the  air,  the  wild  beasts  of  the  forest,  the  insects 
and  the  elements,  all  had  conspired  to  devour  the  flesh,  while 
the  skeletons  alone  remain — horrible  reminders  of  the  dreadful 
conflict  which  took  place  in  the  woods  of  Spottsylvania  two  years 
previous.  Here  the  boys  saw  the  stump  of  the  large  tree  which 
had  been  cut  in  two  by  Minie  balls  at  the  time  that  Hancock's 
Division  charged  the  Rebel  works.  In  a  little  wood  was  found  a 
lieutenant  and  six  men.  They  lay  in  their  army  blue,  just  where 
they  fell  facing  the  enemy.  Human  bones  were  scattered  all 
over  the  field.  On  a  post  was  seen  a  ghastly  skull  which  some 
soldier  had  placed  there.  The  boys  were  glad  when  they  left 
this  terrible  spot,  and  passed  on  into  the  green  fields  and  shady 
woods. 

At  about  noon  the  Regiment  reached  the  old  Chancellorsville 
battle  fieid,  the  scene  of  their  first  terrible  conflict  over  two  years 
before.  Here  they  halted  two  hours,  and  visited  the  spot  where 
so  many  of  their  comrades  had  fallen,  and  a  prayer  of  thanks 
giving  went  up  from  many  a  heart  that  day,  that  God  in  His 
great  goodness  had  seen  fit  to  spare  them.  Walking  over  the 
field  brought  vividly  to  memory  that  terrible  3d  day  of  May, 
1863.  They  visited  the  line  where  so  many  of  their  com 
rades  had  fallen,  and  found  that  their  dead  bodies  had  been 
scarcely  covered  with  earth  by  the  Rebels  who  held  possession  of 
the  field  at  the  close  of  the  fight.  They  procured  spades  and 
covered  up  the  skeletons  of  several,  and  at  the  head  of  some 
vSergt.  Wrangham  of  Co.  C  placed  a  board  with  the  name  and 
number  of  the  Regiment  cut  thereon.  Two  years  had  made  but 
little  change  in  the  looks  of  things  on  and  about  the  field. 
There  was  the  same  little  line  of  stumps  and  rails  which  they 
had  made  for  a  breastwork;  the  little  brook  just  back  of  the  line, 
in  which  they  bathed  their  faces  on  that  memorable  Sabbath 


THE    1231)    REGIMENT.  187 

morning,  bubbles  along  just  the  same:  the  plank  road  to  the 
right,  from  which  came  that  cross-fire;  the  hill  up  to  the  Chan- 
cellorsville  house  is  just  as  steep  as  on  that  3d  day  of  May,  when 
they  were  compelled  to  fall  back  amid  a  perfect  shower  of  shot 
and  shell.  Green  grass  covers  the  fields  now,  and  the  singing  of 
birds  has  taken  the  place  of  the  booming  of  cannon,  the  scream 
ing  shell,  and  the  wails  of  the  dying  and  wounded. 

Gen.  Sherman  was  to  be  seen,  with  his  hands  behind  him, 
walking  backward  and  forth  on  the  ridge  near  the  Chancellors- 
ville  House  in  apparent  deep  meditation,  while  the  boys  were 
scattered  over  the  field  visiting  places  familiar  to  them.  Soon  the 
bugle  sounds  to  "  fall  in,"  and  with  one  more  look  at  the  graves 
of  fallen  comrades  they  hasten  into  line,  and  are  soon  on  the 
march,  taking  the  same  road  to  United  States  Ford  they  did  two 
years  before,  but  under  what  different  circumstances!  Then 
they  had  been  defeated  and  were  falling  back  to  their  old  camp 
at  Stafford  Court  House  ;  now  they  were  on  their  way  home  after 
having  helped  conquer  the  Rebels.  Moving  down  on  the  flat 
by  the  Ford  they  camped  for  the  night,  feeling  that  they  had 
passed  through  an  eventful  day— a  day  in  which  scenes  of  other 
days  had  been  brought  fresh  to  their  memories. 

May  1 6th  the  boys  were  up  early,  and  after  a  breakfast  of  coffee 
and  hard-tack,  pushed  on  across  the  Rappahannock  river  at 
United  States  Ford,  and  soon  after  reached  Hastwood  church, 
and  moving  north-west,  halted  for  the  night  at  Cedar  Creek,  af 
ter  having  made  about  sixteen  miles.  Nothing  occurred  on  the 
march  during  the  day,  and  the  conversation  of  the  boys  was 
mostly  about  the  eventful  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  the  visit  to 
the  field  having  brought  back  fresh  every  little  incident. 

By  9  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  May  iyth  the  boys  were  on 
the  road.  Crossing  Cedar  Creek  they  pushed  on,  passing  through 
Bristersburgh  and  Weaversville,  and  camped  for  the  night  on  the 
banks  of  Slaty  River,  having  marched  about  thirteen  miles. 


188  KEMINISCENCP:S  OF 

The  morning  of  May  i8th  they  crossed  Slaty  river  and  moved 
on  through  Brintonville,  crossed  Broad  river  and  Bull  Run,  and 
to  Fairfax  Station.  Here  the  boys  felt  as  though  they  had  run 
across  an  old  friend,  for  they  were  stationed  there  the  winter  of 
1862-3,  and  the  country  from  Fairfax  to  the  Occoquan,  and  to 
Stafford  Court  House  was  familiar  to  them.  Pushing  on,  they 
marched  to  Berk  Station  and  camped  for  the  night,  tired  out. 
They  had  marched  about  twenty  miles,  and  a  good  share  of  the 
day  it  rained.  But  the  boys  cared  nothing  for  the  aches  and 
pains  of  a  long  march,  for  they  knew  that  each  mile  passed  over 
brought  them  a  mile  nearer  home. 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 

BEACH  FAIRFAX  SEMINARY—IN  SIGHT  OF  WASHINGTON— IN  CAMP  AT 
FORT  WORTH— FRIENDS  FROM  HOME— ACROSS  LONG  BRIDGE— THE 
GRAND  REVIEW-COL.  ROGERS  PROMOTED— MUSTERED  OUT— OFF  FOR 
PHILADELPHIA— BREAKFAST  AT  THE  COOPER  SHOP  VOLUNTEER  RE 
FRESHMENT  SALOON-  REACH  NEW  YORK— RICE  SOUP  IN  A  WASHTUB 
—UP  THE  HUDSON— IN  CAMP  AT  ALBANY— HOME  AT  LAST. 

MAY  1 9th,  1865,  they  were  on  the  road  by  7  o'clock,  and 
reached  Fairfax  seminary  at  about  4  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon,  and  camped  near  Fort  Worth,  in  sight  of  the  old  Capitol 
at  Washington.  What  a  welcome  sight  this  was  to  the  boys.  It 
was  like  seeing  the  steeples  of  their  own  village,  and  they  felt 
that  they  were  near  their  journey's  end.  They  marched  about 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  189 

seventeen  miles.  The  2Oth  they  laid  out  streets,  and  the  2ist 
friends  from  home  came  flocking  into  camp  to  visit  the  boys. 
The  22d  and  23d  were  occupied  in  preparing  for  a  grand  review 
which  they  understood  was  to  take  place  in  Washington,  before 
the  head  men  of  the  nation. 

The  Regiment  broke  camp  at  sunrise  on  the  morning  of  the 
24th  of  May,  passed  in  review  before  Gen.  Sherman,  and  then 
marched  down  to  the  Potomac  and  across  Long  Bridge,  and 
passed  in  grand  review  before  the  President,  Gen.  Grant  and 
others,  moving  through  the  city,  and  about  four  miles  north  on 
the  Washington  and  Baltimore  railroad,  and  camped  for  the 
night  very  tired ;  and  well  they  might  be,  for  they  had  marched 
about  thirty  miles  in  all,  and  it  was  as  hard  a  day's  march  as  they 
had  ever  made.  It  is  not  necessary  for  us  to  speak  of  the  grand 
review  for  it  is  a  matter  of  history.  This  day  was  devoted  to  the 
review  of  Sherman's  army,  the  army  of  the  Potomac  having  been 
reviewed  the  day  before.  In  this  review  the  "bummers'  took  a 
prominent  part,  for  they  occupied  a  position  in  the  line  with  their 
pack  mules  loaded  with  pots  and  kettles,  and  all  the  parapher 
nalia  of  the  "bummers' brigade/' minus  the  pigs,  geese,  hens, 
turkeys,  etc. 

The  next  clay  the  Regiment  moved  camp  to  a  pleasanter  lo 
cation,  laid  out  streets  and  went  into  camp  to  await  the  order  to 
leave  for  home.  The  days  dragged  themselves  wearily  along  un 
til  June  8th,  when  they  were  mustered  out  of  the  United  States 
service.  June  2d  orders  were  read  on  dress  parade  that  Col. 
Rogers  had  been  promoted  to  Brigadier-General  in  the  Volunteer 
service. 

The  officers  worked  day  and  night  making  out  the  muster 
rolls.  On  June  6th  the  papers  were  all  completed,  and  on  the 
7th  they  were  carried  in  and  handed  over  to  the  Government  for 
inspection,  and  on  the  8th  the  Regiment  was  mustered 


lyO  .    REMINISCENCES    OF 

out.  The  boys  were  fairly  wild  with  delight  when  they  received 
orders  to  get  ready  to  go  home.  At  6  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
Friday,  June  9th,  the  Regiment  boarded  the  cars  at  Washington 
depot,  reaching  Baltimore  at  i  o'clock  P.  M.  ,  where  they  took 
dinner.  At  5  o'clock  they  left  Baltimore,  reaching  Haverdegrass 
at  dark.  After  an  all  night's  ride  they  reached  Philadelphia  at 
daylight.  Marching  to  the  Cooper  Shop  Volunteer  Refreshment 
Saloon  the  boys  partook  of  the  best  meal  that  they  had  had 
since  they  were  there  nearly  three  years  before.  The  Regiment 
was  not  so  large  by  several  hundreds  as  it  was  then.  The  boys 
will  never  forget  the  old  Quaker  city,  and  not  only  the  boys  in 
the  1 23d  Regiment,  but  every  soldier  who  passed  through  that 
city.  After  breakfast  they  took  a  boat  for  Camden.  At  the  lat 
ter  place  they  took  the  train  at  7  o'clock,  passing  through 
Burlington,  Portland,  New  Brunswick,  Norway,  Elizabeth  and 
Jersey  City,  N.  J. ,  crossed  the  river  to  New  York  city,  where 
they  were  fed  a  little  rice  and  warm  water,  called  rice  soup.  The 
soup  was  in  large  washtubs,  from  which  it  was  taken  in  large  tin 
dippers,  and  every  soldier  marched  up  and  received  his  ' '  slush  " 
if  he  had  a  tin  cup.  If  not,  he  did  not  get  anything.  Many 
preferred  a  "wind  pudding,  '"  and  ran  away  from  the  filthy  mess 
as  fast  as  they  could.  What  a  contrast  to  the  breakfast  at  Phil 
adelphia.  There  they  were  seated  at  a  long  table,  with  table 
cloth  on,  and  everything  neat  and  clean,  and  with  victuals,  the 
like  of  which  they  had  not  seen  in  nearly  three  years.  In  New 
York,  two  or  three  bare  armed  laborers  dipping  soup  from  a 
WASHTUB  !  Perhaps  New  York  city  thought  this  was  good  enough 
for  soldiers.  A  farmer  would  not  treat  his  hogs  as  the  boys  were 
treated  in  New  York,  and  they  were  glad  enough  when  orders 
came  to  "fall  in,  "  and  off  they  went  for  the  "John  Taylor,  "  a 
steamer  lying  at  the  dock,  ready  to  take  them  where  they  could 
get  clean  grass  to  eat,  if  nothing  more.  At  just  5  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  the  old  steamer  let  go  her  moorings,  and  after  an  all 


THE    1230    REGIMENT.  19! 

night's  ride  on  the  Hudson,  reached  Albany  at  sunrise  on  the 
morning  of  the  nth  of  June,  Sunday,  and  marched  to  Fen  ton 
barracks  on  the  Troy  road,  and  camped  in  rear  of  them. 

The  Regiment  went  out  nine  hundred  and  fifty  strong,  and 
returned  with  five  hundred  and  twenty-five.  About  forty  one- 
year  men  returned  with  the  Regiment.  About  sixty  recruits, 
whose  terms  were  unexpired,  were  transferred  to  the  6oth  New 
York. 

The  i4th  day  of  June  came  at  last — the  day  which  was  to  see 
the  final  release  of  the  boys  from  the  thralldom  of  military  mar 
tinet.  And  with  his  honorable  discharge  in  one  pocket,  and  his 
pay  (minus  the  price  of  the  most  rectangular  kind  of  a  square 
meal)  in  the  other,  the  average  Washington  county  veteran 
looked  calmly  down  with  a  placid,  patronizing  disdain,  on  that 
portion  of  creation  generally  which  did  not  belong  to  the  123(1 
Regiment.  A  free  and  independent  citizen  of  the  great  Repub 
lic  his  good  right  arm  had  helped  to  save.  Free  to  come  and  go 
as  he  pleased,  and  do  what  he  pleased,  providing  he  harmed  no 
man.  Free  to  swagger  coolly  past  his  superior  officer  with  his 
army  regulation  cap  set  squarely  on  the  back  of  his  head,  and 
his  martial  fists  thrust  into  the  lowermost  depths  of  his  army  reg 
ulation  trousers  pockets.  As  one  frisky  warrior  piously  put  it, 
"They  allowed  that  they  could  lick  six  times  as  many  Rebs  as 
they  were,  any  day,  and  didn't  care  a  cussdam  for  any  son  of  sin 
from  a  brigadier  down."  No  one  who  has  not  "been  there 
himself,"  and  submitted  to  the  galling  restraints  of  the  camp, 
can  realize  the  refreshing  sense  of  personal  independence  of  the 
discharged  soldier  on  his  way  home.  Home  !  In  the  contem 
plation  of  his  new-born  dignity  he  had  actually  forgotten,  for  the 
instant,  that  bright  particular  star  toward  which  his  thoughts  have 
fondly  turned  for  weary  days,  and  months,  and  years  it  may  be> 
in  the  lonely  vigil  and  by  the  smouldering  embers  of  long  since 
dead  camp  fires. 


192  REMINISCENCES    OF 

The  rousing  receptions  and  public  dinners  tendered  to  each 
company  of  "bold  sojer  boys '  by  their  respective  towns  are  still 
too  fresh  in  the  minds  of  our  readers  to  need  special  mention 
here.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  the  arrangements  were  perfect  ;  that 
every  soldier  drew  full  rations;  that  the  speeches,  good,  bad  and 
indifferent,  were  rapturously  applauded  ;  that  everybody  was 
happy,  and  again  "The  Regiments  uproarious,  laughed  in 
plenty's  glee.'" 

Little  remains  to  be  said.  We  have  followed  the  fortunes  of 
the  1 23d  Regiment  to  the  end.  We  have  traced  their  wandering 
footsteps  over  half  a  continent.  North,  south,  east  and  west,— 
from  the  quiet  homes  of  old  Washington  to  the  battlemented 
heights  of  Georgia  ;  from  the  blue  waters  of  the  Atlantic  to  the 
rolling  prairies  of  the  West.  We  have  seen  them  floundering 
through  Virginia  mud,  plunging  amid  the  thunder-crowned  Al- 
leghanies,  and  breathing  the  tainted  air  of  far  off  Carolina  rice 
swamps.  We  have  seen  them  amid  the  shock  of  battle, — emerg 
ing  with  bullet-riven  ranks  from  the  smoking  hell  of  fight  after 
fight,  till  on  their  tattered  ensigns  was  written  the  proud  record 
of  a  score  of  hard  fought  fields;  dropping  the  musket  but  to 
seize  the  spade,  scorched  with  heat,  parched  with  thirst  and  faint 
ing  with  fatigue.  And  finally,  after  nearly  three  years  of  toiling, 
fighting  and  suffering,  we  mark  their  return  to  the  firesides  so 
gallantly  defended,  to  again  take  up  the  duties  of  a  blood-united 
country.  A  wide,  dark  interval  since  we  first  beheld  them,  full 
of  lusty  life,  marching  gaily  out  of  the  old  rendezvous  at  Salem. 
The  ranks  are  thinner  now.  There  are  deep  gaps  in  the  long 
line.  Manly  voices  are  still,  whose  sturdy  "Here!''  rang  out 
with  the  boldest.  The  men  are  a  trifle  older,  a  trifle  sterner  on 
this  i4th  day  of  June,  1865,  but  the  same  soldiers  still.  The 
same  happy-go-lucky  soldier  boys  who  cursed  Jeff  Davis,  con 
sumed  army  whiskey  and  plundered  secesh  hen  roosts  in  half  the 


THE     I23D    REGIMENT.  193 

states  of  the  Confederacy.  The  same  dauntless  heroes  that  faced 
the  storm  of  Rebel  lead,  and  exchanged  badinage  in  the  very 
Valley  of  the  Shadow  of  Death. 

Wide'}'  scattered  are  the  graves  of  those  sons,  friends  and  neigh 
bors  who  went  down  amid  wars  discordant  clangor,  in  nameless 
skirmish  and  immortal  field  ;  under  the  surgeons  knife  and 
stricken  bv  the  pestilential  breath  of  Southland  marshes.  They 
died  that  we  might  live.  May  it  be  long,  very  long,  ere  the 
pulses  of  old  Washington  county  shall  thrill  at  the  brave  deeds 
of  another  123(1  REGIMENT  ! 


[SELECTED.] 

A  CRIPPLED  SOLDIER  IN  COURT 


"  Drunk  ?     Yes;  that's  what  the  p'licernau  said. 
Reform  ?     I  will — when  I  am  dead. 
A  mail  that's  short  a  leg  and  arm 
Don't  need  to  give  the  cops  alarm  ; 
And  drink  drowns  weary  pain,  I've  found, 
And  helps  a  fellow  graveward  bound. 
I  "  steal  "  to  quench  this  cursed  thirst? 
If  I  was  whole  you'd  hardly  durst 
To  ask  me  that.  Judge  though  >ou  are  ; 
I  fought  with  Sherman  in  tue  war! 
This  empty  sleeve  bore  chevrons  then  ; 
I  wore  'em  in  the  Devil's  Glen  ; 
And  old  Tecumseh  thanked  me,  too, 
And  said  I'd  glorify  *he  blue  : 
And  only  for  my  wounds.  I  say 
I'd  been  an  officer  that  day. 
The  color  sergeant,  Reckless  Joe? 
That's  me,  of  course,  but  how'd  you  know? 
What! — you  led  the  "Bummers'  "  Own? 
You  rode  that  mare,  the  kickin'  roan  ? 
Why  !— yes,  my  God,  its  really  him  ! 
Judge  ! — Colonel!— pshaw,  how  dim 
My  peepers  get !     Discharged?    No  fine  ? 
Gome  to  your  house  at  ene  ?     To  dine  ? 
A  man  once  more,  'rnong  other  men  I 
I  think  I'll  try  to  live  again !  " 


194  REMINISCENCES    OF 


APPENDIX. 

The  following  Appendix  we  have  compiled  from  the  Company 
Rolls.  It  is  very  difficult  to  avoid  errors  in  lists  of  this  kind,  but 
in  the  main  the  Companies  are  correct.  We  are  under  obliga 
tions  to  Capt.  O.  S.  Hall,  Capt.  George  R.  Hall,  Capt  James 
Hill,  Capt.  George  Robinson,  Lieut.  Robert  Cruikshank,  Lieut. 
Donald  S.  Reed,  Sergt.  Thomas  J.  Wrangham,  Sergt.  Joseph  H. 
Middleton,  and  Sergt.  Sidney  B.  Weer,  for  Company  Rolls,  and 
for  valuable  assistance  in  preparing  the  following  Appendix.  We 
do  not  give  the  date  of  enlistment  of  the  men  who  went  out  in 
1862,  as  most  of  them  enlisted  in  July  and  August  of  that  year. 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  195 


ROLL     OF      COMPANIES. 


CO.   A— GREENWICH  AND  KASTON. 

In  the  civil  war  the  old  town  of  Greenwich  furnished  231  men. 
100  of  the  231  lost  their  lives  in  the  service.  Greenwich  and 
the  north  half  of  Easton  expended  $88,074.82,  and  was  repre 
sented  mostly  in  the  12 3d,  77th,  930!,  3Oth  and  22d  Regiments. 
Vv;iCn  it  was  resolved  in  July,  1862,  to  raise  a  Washington  County 
Regiment,  this  town  went  to  work  with  a  will  and  determination 
to  raise  her  quota  promptly.  The  War  Committee  designated 
Abram  Reynolds  as  Captain  of  the  company  to  be  raised  from 
Greenwich  and  the  north  half  of  Easton,  and  a  recruiting  office 
was  opened  in  the  south  end  of  Whiteside  Hill's  old  block,  since 
burned.  It  was  the  first  company  to  reach  the  rendezvous  at 
Salem,  and  was  given  the  right  of  the  Regiment,  Co.  A,  with  99 
men.  The  company  received  $4, 950  in  bounty  from  the  County, 
and  the  same  from  the  State,  each  man  receiving  $100  in  all. 

The  town  adopted  appropriate  measures  to  fill  her  quota  at 
each  call  of  the  President  for  more  men.  At  a  special  meeting 
held  October  30,  1862,  a  bounty  ot  $2,400  was  authorized  to  be 
paid  by  the  town  auditors.  On  the  i8th  of  December,  1863, 
the  action  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  was  ratified,  and  John 
Stewart,  Jas.  Lourie,  Archibald  Lendrum,  Morgan  Heath  and 
Isaac  G.  Parker  appointed  to  fill  the  quota  under  the  President's 
call  for  300,000  men,  by  paying  $200  bounty  to  each  man. 
The  number  of  men  to  be  raised  was  52.  At  a  special  meeting 
held  March  26,  1864,  the  Supervisor  of  the  town,  Isaac  G.  Park 
er,  was  authorized  to  pay  $350  per  volunteer,  and  August  11, 
1864,  I.  G.  Parker,  N.  G.  Moor,  Abram  Reynolds,  Win.  M. 
Holmes,  J.  T.  Masters  and  Morgan  Heath  as  a  committee,  were 
authorized  to  pay  $500  per  volunteer.  December  27,  1864,  I. 
G.  Parker,  Abram  Reynolds  and  W.  L.  Cozzens  were  appointed 
a  final  committee  to  fill  the  quota. 


196 


REMINISCENCES    OF 


COMMISSIONED     OFFICERS . 


Abram  Reynolds  was  the  first  Captain  of  the  company.  Date  of  commission,  Sep 
tember  10,  1862;  date  of  rank,  August  9,  1862  He  resigned  and  was  discharged 
July  18,  1863.  Has  been  Member  of  Assembly  two  terms. 

Alonzo  T.  Mason,  1st  Lieuienant.  i  ate  ot  commission  Sepember  10,  1862;  date  of 
rank  August  9,  1862;  promoted  to  Captain  Oct.  16,  1863;  breveted  Major;  was  aid- 
de-camp  to  Gen.  Williams  when  war  closed;  mustered  out  with  regiment;  died  of 
consumption  at  Greenwich,  April  7,  1872. 

James  C.  Shaw  2d  Lieutenant:  Date  of  commission  September  10,  1862;  date  of 
rank  August  9,  1862,  promoted  Captain  of  Co.  B  July  21,  ]863;  discharged  with 
regiment;  elected  Sheriff  of  Washington  County  in  1868. 

George  Robinson,  Orderly  Sergeant.  Promoted  1st  Lieutenant;  date  of  commis 
sion  October  15,  1863;  date  of  rank  July  18,  1863;  commanded  company  while 
Captain  was  on  staff  duty;  breveted  Captain;  discharged  with  regiment:  resides 
at  Schuylerville,  Saratoga  County. 

Harvey  Bosworth,  Sergeant.  Promoted  2d  Lieutenant  July  10, 1863;  was  aid  de-comp 
to  Brevet  Brigadier  Gen.  Selfridge,  commanding  Brigade;  discharged  with  regi 
ment;  resides  at  Troy. 

NON-COMMISSIONED     OFFICERS. 

William  Harrison,  Sergt.,  killed  at  Chancellorsville  May  1,  1863;  buried  on  the  field. 
Albert  A.  Norton.  Sergt.,  detached  with  ambulance  corps;  dischaiged  with  regiment 
Joseph  Safford,  Sergt.,  wounded  and  prisoner  at  Chancellorsville  May  3;  discharged. 

with  regiment. 
Eugene  Cowan,  Corp.,  promoted   Sergeant;  discharged   with   regiment;   resides  at 

Chicago.  111. 

William  Dobbin,  Corp.,  died  of  fever  at  Nashville,  Tenu.,  August  10,  1864, 
John  Richards.  Corp.,  promoted  Sergeant  Nov.  11,  1863;  discharged  with   regiment. 
Albert  M.  Cook,  Corp..  promoted  Sergeant  Nov.  14,  1863;  sick  and  sent  to  Nashville 

when  regiment  commenced  the  Atlanta  campaign;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Koswell  B.  Janes,  Corp.,  died  at  Stafford  Court  House,  March  5,  1863. 
Aaron  M.  Hyatt,  Corp.,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Hiram  Rice,  Corp.,  discharged  with  regiment. 
William  Manning,  Corp.,  wounded  a   Chancellorsvilie;  discharged  with  regiment. 

PRIVATES. 

Albert  Allen,  died  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  of  chronic  diarrhoea,  December  21,  1863; 

supposed  to  be  buried  there. 

Joshua  Allen,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  legiment. 
John  Bakei1.     While  the  regiment  was  stationer!  at  Elk  river  John  married  a  girl  in 

Lincoln  Co.,  Tenn.,  and  when  the  regiment  left  for  the  Iront  he  remained  behind. 
Ansel  Bentiy,  wounded  p.t  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Ezra  Bouter,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Leroy  Briggs,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Ferdinand  JBourrie,  discharged  with  regiment. 
William  Bartlett,  killed  at  Ohancellorsville;  buried  on  the  field. 
Oscar  Baumes,  killed  at  Chancellorsville;  buried  on  the  field. 
John  Baumes,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Adelbert  Hrown,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Evander  Burtis.  died  at  Philadelphia  while  en  route  to  Washington,  1862. 
James  H   Bennett,  recruit. 
George  K.  Buck,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Charles  Campbell,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Palmar  K.  Clark,  musician,  wounded  and  prisoner  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged 

December  25,  1864 

George  L.  Cramer,  transferred  to  V.  K.  C  ,  September,  1862;  discharged  June  24,  '65. 
John  Curtis. 

John  Cutter,  reenlisted  in  To.  A  in  September,  1864;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Drias  Chapin,  recruit;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Eiisha  Downing,  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  Donn,  discharged  with  regiment;  resides  at  North  Adams.  Mass. 
John  Decker,  taken  prisoner   while   on   skirmish  line  at  Gulp's  Farm;  discharged 

with  regiment 

Alexander  Dobbin,  taken  prisoner  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Richard  Durham,  promoted  Corporal;  taken  prisoner   at  Culp's  Farm;   discharged 

with  regiment. 
Charles  Dings. 


THE    I23U    REGIMENT.  Uj7 

David  Douohoe,  discharged  for  disability  February  2,  18(53. 

Phineas  F.  Dixon,  enlisted  in  September,   1864;  discharged  with  regiment;  resides 

at  Argyle. 

Charles  A.  Fowler,  discharged  with  regiment;  drowned  July  4,  1879. 
Samuel  Fones,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Burdick  Fuller,  wounded  at  Dallas,  Ga. ;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Cortlaud  Faxon,  discharged  with  regiment. 
William  Fenton,  wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  2,  1803;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.  May 

16,  1864;  discharged  July  7,  1865. 
John  Groome,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Charles  Gillson,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Abel  Galusha,  discharged  with  re-imeut. 
Richard  Galusha.  discharged  with  regiment 
John  II.  Hyde,  killed  at  Chancellorsville;  buried  on  the  field. 
John  F.  Hillmau,  discharged  with  regiment. 

George  H.  Hay,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.  April  10,  1864. 
John  Hornibrook,  discharged  lor  disability  July  15,  1864. 

Thomas  Hughes,  wounded  at  Gulp's  Farm  June  22,  1864;  discharged  with  regiment, 
John  Hughes,  deserted,  came  back  under  President's  pardon  proclamation,  and 

transferred  to  the  60th  N.  Y .  S.  V   to  serve  out  full  time. 
Jonathan  Hatch,  discharged  \vith  regiment. 
Zachariah    Hastings,   died  at  Harper's  Ferry  December  25,  1862;  supposed  to  be 

buried  there. 

James  Hay,  discharged  July  10,  1865. 
Benjamin  H.  Hyde,  Alexander  Hemstreet,  David  Irviu. 
Henry  Knapp,  Scout  for  Gen.  Kane;  discharged  June  29,  1863. 
Frank  Knapp,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Robert  Karnaghau,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Alexander  Lambert,  discharged  with  regiment. 
James  Livingston,  discharged  with  regiment, 
Vital  Lapoint,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Lucius  Long,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Charles  Lapoint,  killed  at  Gulp's  Farm;  buried  on  the  field. 

Henry  Lampman,  died  at  Acquia  Creek  hospital  of  wounds  received  at  Chancellors 
ville;  supposed  to  be  buried  at  Acquia  Creek. 
Joseph  Lapoiut,  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga. 
Nathan  Lamp  hire  killed  at  Winchester  Springs,  Tenn.,  January  12,  1864;  buried  at 

Elk  River  Bridge. 

John  Lampmau,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Alexander  Mitchell,  died  of  disease  at  Chattanooga,  Teun.,  August  16,  1864. 
Edwin  B.  Mother,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Ttiomas  McCullougu,  reenlisted  from  the  22d  regiment  August  25,  1864;    discharged 

with  regiment. 

Wallace  Orton,  wounded  at  Gettysburg;  discharged  at  Philadelphia. 
Daniel  Parks,  discharged  with  regiment. 
John  Previe,  discharged  April  17,  1865. 

Albert  Potter,  killed  on  skirmish  (line  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  30,  1864;  buried  there. 
James  Pilling,  wounded  at  Chaucellorsville;  transferred  to  invalid  corps;  discharged 

May  21,  1865. 

Alonzo  Rice   discharged  with  regiment. 
George  L.  Russell,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Adolphus  Rosebush,  discharged  with  regiment;  died  at  Greenwich  of  consumption. 
Hiram  Rice,  promoted  to  Corporal;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Jacob  Steves,  died  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Feb.  10,  1863;  supposed  to  be  buried  there. 
George  Sheffield,  discharged  with  regiment. 
William  Sheffield,  discharged  July  13.  18(35. 
Geo.  W.  Searf,  discharged  with  regiment. 
John  A.  Spencer,  discharged  \vith  regiment. 

William  H.  Spencer,  discharged  with  regiment  and  died  in  Greenwich  in  1873, 
Oscar  Sparhawk,  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Chancellorsville;    discharged  May, 

1865. 

Reuben  Stewart,  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  Shearer,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;   discharged  with  regiment. 
William  J.  Smith,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Martin  Shearer,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Albert  W.  Tanner,  promoted  to  Corporal;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Martin  F.  Duulap,  Thomas  O.  Giles. 


I()8  REMINISCENCES    OF 


Hiram  B.  Tefft,  transferred  to  Navy  April  17,  1864,  and  shipped  on  board  U.  S,  steam 
er  "Winnebago"  as  ship  Corporal  April  24,  1864.  Was  present  at  the  time  of  the 
capture  of  the  Rebel  ram  "Tennessee,"  and  the  gunboats  "Seima"  and  "Games," 
four  large  scows  and  four  sloops.  Also  at  the  capture  of  Fort  Morgan,  Fort 
Gaines,  Spanish  Fort,  and  the  city  ol  Mobile.  Was  discharged  August  7,  1865. 

Caleb  B.  Tefft,  wounded  at  Chaucellorsville;  discharged  with  the  regiment. 

Charles  Tefft,  wounded  at  Resaca. 

Charles  Tucker,  wounded  at  Chaucellorsvillc;  promoted  to  Corporal  November  14, 
1863;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Benjamin  Van  Arnum 

Alfred  Wilmarth.  wagoner;  discharged  for  disability  February  21,  1863. 

Monroe  Waller,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Thomas  D.  Wright,  discharged  with  regiment. 

LeRoy  Wright,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville  and  killed  at  Peach  Tree  Creek;  buried 
on  the  field. 

David  Whipplp. 

Erastus  T.  Williams,  discharged  May  24,  1865. 

Thomas  Wilson,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Albert  Wilcox,  died  at  his  home  in  Moreau,  Saratoga  county,  while  a  patient  in  Sater- 
lee  hospital,  May  31,  1863. 

John  Wilson,  discharged  for  disability  March  16,  1*63. 

LeRoy  Whittaker,  enlisted  in  old  9th  New  York  in  June,  1863;  discharged  on  account 
of  sickness;  reeniisted  in  Co.  A.  123d  regiment,  fall  of  1864,  and  joined  regiment 
at  Atlanta:  discharged  with  regiment. 

MichaelJ.  Wolff,  enlisted  in  March,  1864;  died  in  hospital  at  Jeffersonville ;  sup 
posed  to  be  buried  there. 

Archibald  Weir,  recruit,  enlisted  August  31,  1864;  died  in  hospital  at  Chattanooga, 
Tenn.,  January  8,  1865,  of  typhoid  fever;  supposed  to  be  buried  there, 

Arnold  A.  Young,  musician,  discharged  Mav  28,  1865. 

Hiram  T.  Young,  wounded  at  Chaucellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  Scott,.  William  H.  Scran  ton,  James  H.  Ferris,  Benjamin  F.  Kodier. 


CO.  B— KINGSBURY. 

The  town  of  Kingsbury,  like  the  other  towns  of  the  county,  went 
early  to  work  to  raise  her  quota  under  the  President's  call  for 
300,000  troops,  July  ist,  1862.  Guy  W.  Clark,  A.  Freeman, 
G.  I.  Stone,  jr.,  Walden  E.  Richards  and  A.  F.  Hitchcock  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  assist  in  enlisting  troops  in  the  town, 
and  George  W.  Warren  was  appointed  Captain  of  the  company 
to  be  raised.  The  success  in  raising  the  company  is  shown  in 
the  fact  that  it  was  the  second  to  report  at  Salem,  with  88  men, 
and  took  the  second  in  rank,  "B. "  The  bounty  paid  by  the 
county  to  Co.  B  was  $4,400.  Each  man  also  received  $50 
from  the  state. 


THE    123!)    REGIMENT.  I  99 

COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS. 

George  W.  Warren  was  the  first  Captain  of  the  company.  Date  of  commission,  Sep 
tember  10,  1S62;  date  of  rank,  August  13,  1862;  he  resigned  June  10,  18G3;  died  in 
Texas  since  the  war. 

James  C.  Shaw  was  the  second  Captain  of  the  company;  promoted  from  Co.  A. 

Janifts  C.  Warren.  1st  Lieutenant;  date  of  commission,  September  10,  1862;  date  of 
rank,  August  13,  1862;  resigned  January  28.  1863, 

William  B.  Brown  was  the  second  1st  Lieutenant  of  the  company.  He  was  promo 
ted  from  Orderly  Sergeant  of  Co  K.  to  1st  Lieutenant  of  Co.  B;  date  of  commis 
sion,  May  2,  1863;  date  of  rank,  January  29,  1863;  wounded  in  leg  at  Pine  Hill, 
Ga. ;  was  afterwards  military  conductor;  discharged  at  close  of  war, 

baiuuel  C.  Burton,  2d  Lieutenant;  date  of  commission,  September  10,  1862;  date 
of  rank,  August  13.  3862;  resigned  January  7,  1863. 

George  W.  Smith  was  the  second  2d  Lieutenant,  being  promoted  from  Orderly  Ser 
geant;  date  of  commission,  May  21,  1863;  date  of  rank,  January  17,  1863;  promo 
ted  to  1st  Lieutenant  of  Co.  K.;  date  of  commission,  January  27,  1865;  date  of 
rank,  January  12,  1865;  slightly  wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  at  Dallas;  discharged 
with  regiment;  murdered  in  Texas  since  the  war. 

NON-COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS   AND    PRIVATES. 

William  O.  Akius   killed  at  Peach  Tree  Creek. 

John  H.  Beach,  died  in  1862. 

Lemuel  Buck,  returned  with  regiment. 

Norman   L.    Bailey,  discharged   in  1862. 

Orville  Branch,  taken  prisoner  on  march  through  South  Carolina,  1865. 

Phiueas  Barber,  transferred  in  1863. 

Rosfell  Bryant,  discharged  in  1362. 

James  Bennett,  died  in  1863. 

Andrew  J.  Blake,  returned  with  regiment. 

Dennis  Bennett,  never  musterd  in. 

Seymour  Beunett,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville:  returned  with  regiment. 

Martin  Burton,  promoted  to  Corporal;  returned  with  regiment. 

Alexander  Burnett,  died  in  1863. 

Arnold  Bullard,  returned  with  regiment. 

Charles  F.  Blakeman,  discharged  in  1863. 

William  Barber,  wounded  in  abdomen  at  battle  of  Dallas;  returned  with  regiment. 

Bernard  Carroll,  wounded  in  the  hand  at  Dallas;  returned  wJth  regimect. 

Eli  Carpenter,  recruit;  returned  with  regiment. 

Lem  Carpenter,  wagoner;  returned  with  regiment. 

Edmuud  Caprou,  Corporal;  returned  with  regiment, 

Francis  Clark,  wagoner;  returned  with  regiment. 

Ira  Durkee,  wounded  in  ankle  at  Gulp's  Farm. 

William  M.  Fuller,  returned  with  regiment. 

David  I.  Gleason,  Corporal;  discharged  in  1863. 

E.  T    Gilman,  musician;  retnnred  with  regiment 

Jeremiah  Green,  returned  with  regiment. 

Andrew  J.  Gile,  returned  with  regiment. 

Jabez  Green,  discharged  in  1862. 

Reuben  Gleason,  returned  with  regiment. 

Jerome  Green,  returned  with  regiment. 

William  Hall,  returned  with  regiment. 

Johu  R.  Hamilton,  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Levi  Heath.  Sergeant;  deserted  in  1863. 

Newton  R   Hays,  Sergeant;  returned  with  regiment. 

Willard  P.  Harris,  Sergeant;  killed  at  Resaca,  May  15,  1864. 

Alouzo  Herringtou,  Corporal;  discharged  in  1863. 

Orriu  E.  Hai-ris,  Corporal;  prom  >ted  to  Sergeant;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Wesley  F   Harrington,  returned  with  regiment. 

Harlan  Harrington,  leg  off  at  Pine  Hill. 

George  W.  Harrington,  wounded  in  hand  at  Peach  Tree  Creek. 

Henry  Hill,  returned  with  regiment. 

Abram  W.  Haight,  discharged  in  1862. 

Austin  Hazleton,  returned  with  regiment. 

J.  G.  Harrington,  returned  with  regiment;  hung  himself  since  his  return. 

G.  W.  Irish,  discharged  in  1863. 

Jumes  Johnston,  Corporal;  returned  with  regiment. 

Horace  Harris  and  James  Haines,  discharged  in  1862. 


2OO  REMINISCENCES    OF 

John  Knapp,  transferred  to  VeteraE  Reserve  Corps. 

James  Lord,  accidentally  wounded  in  the  hand  while  oil  guard  at  Bridgeport;  re 
turned  with  regiment. 

Joseph  H.  Middletou,  Orderly  Sergeant;  wounded  in  right  arm  at  Peach  Tree 
Creek;  returned  with  regiment. 

Thomas  A.  Morris,  Corporal;  returned  with  regiment. 

Germoud  Mosier,  returned  with  regiment, 

Charles  Mosier,  returned  with  regiment. 

John  H.  Middletou,  died  at  Harper's  Ferry,  January  3.6,  18G3. 

Charles  Moore,  returned  with  regiment. 

Joseph  Moore,  recruit;  returned  with  regiment. 

William  Marteudale,  returned  with  regiment. 

Elias  Mead,  discharged  in  1863 

Thomas  McCloud,  returned  with  regiment;  died  in  1877. 

Edwin  B.  Norton,  Corporal;  returned  with  regiment. 

Silas  Ormsby,  Corporal;  slightly  wounded  at  Moccasin  Creek,  N.  C.,  March,  1865. 

John  H.  Ormsby,  returned  with  regiment 

Emmett  L.  Ormsby,  returned  with  regiment. 

Edward  Phair,  taken  prisoner  on  march  through  South  Carolina    1865. 

George  M.  Perry,  returned  with  regiment. 

William  H.  Pixley,  returned  with  regim»nt 

Edwiu  Peirsou.  wounded  in  hand  at  Resaea,  May  lr>,  1864. 

Ezekiel  Parks,  discharged  1863. 

Leauder  Pelot,  taken  prisoner  at  Chancellorsville ;  returned  with   regiment. 

Charles  L.  Ransom,  discharged  iiil86.i. 

Robert  Ramsey,  deserted  in  1863. 

B.  Franklin  Smith,  taken  prisoner  at  Gulp's  Farm,  June  22,  1864;  returned  with 
regiment. 

George  H.  Simpson,  Corporal;  deserted  in  1862. 

Dwight  Stone,  died  at  Bridgeport  in  1864. 

Walter  Stone,  discharged  m  1863, 

George  Stover,  wounded  in  heel  at  Chancellorsville,  May  3,  1863;  died  M -»y  5th  on 
battle  field,  from  lock-jaw. 

Lewis  Tucker,  returned  with  regiment;  drowned  at  Sandy  Hill  soon  after  return. 

James  B.  Taylor,  Corporal;  wounded  in  arm  at  Peach  Tree  Creek. 

Henry  Vauyea,  returned  with  regiment;  died  at  Sandy  Hili  s^on  after  return. 

Henry  Van  Vrauken,  discharged  from  hospital  at  close  ef  war. 

Charles  H   Vaughn,  Sergeant;  returned  with  regiment. 

Joseph  Warren.  Corporal;  discharged  from  hospital  1865. 

Muusou  Wheeler,  died  1863. 

Joseph  White,  returned  with  regiment. 

P.  C.  Wetman,  discharged  1862. 

Jacob  Yarter,  blacksmith:  returned  with  regiment;  died  since  war. 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  2OI 


CO.  C— WHITEHALL. 

Whitehall  raised  eighty-five  men  for  the  123$.  Regiment,  and 
was  the  third  town  to  send  a  company  to  the  rendezvous  at  Sa 
lem,  taking  third  position — Co.  C.  This  town  was  not  wanting 
in  patriotism,  and  appropriated  means  to  fill  every  call  for  troops. 
Co.  C  was  paid  a  County  bounty  of  $4,275,  and  a  State  bounty 
of  the  same. 

COMMISSIONED     OFFICERS . 

Adolphus  H.  Tanner  was  the  first  Captain  of  the  company.  Date  of  commission, 
September  10,  1862;  date  of  rank,  August  17,  1862.  Promoted  Major  May  12, 
1863;  promoted  Lieutenant-Colonel  November  19,1864;  wounded  at  Dallas:  dis 
charged  with  regiment.  Was  elected  to  Congress  in  1868. 

Walter  G.  Warner  was  the  first  1st  Lieutenant.  Date  of  commission,  Sept.  10,  1862; 
date  of  rai.k  August  14,  1862;  detached  on  Gen.  Paul's  staff;  resigned  February  11, 
1863;  died  since  the  war. 

John  C.  Corbett  was  the  first  2d  Lieutenant;  date  of  commission,  September  10. 
I8G2;  date  of  rank,  August  14.  1862;  killed  at  Chancellorsville  and  buried  on  the 
field. 

George  H.  Wallace  was  the  second  Captain  of  the  company.  Date  of  commission, 
October  15,  1863;  date  of  rank,  May  12,  1863;  resigned  January  11,  18G4. 

Hiram  O  Warren  was  the  third  Captain  of  the  company,  being  promoted  from  Co. 
K.  Date  of  commission  March  15,  1864;  date  of  rank  Jan.  12,  1864;  discharged 
with  regiment. 

Luke  H.  Carriugtou  was  the  second  2d  Lieutenant,  promoted  from  Orderly  Sergeant. 
Date  of  commission  May  22,  1865;  date  of  rank  May  3,  1863;  was  military  conduc 
tor;  discharged  with  regiment. 

NON-COMMISSIONED     OFFICERS. 

Nicholas  Hillard,  Orderly  Sergeant;  discharged  with  regiment. 
11.  W.  Farrel,  Sergeant;  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Michael  Johnson,  Sergeant;  deserted  when  regiment  reached  Washington. 
II.  C.  Morhous,  Sergeant,  discharged  with  regiment. 
George  Wright.  Corporal,  killed  at  Chancellorsville. 

Leonard  S.  Gillett.  Corporal;  promoted  Sergeant;  killed  at  Chancellorsville. 
E.  S.  Pi^nfield,  Corporal;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Thomas  J.  Wrangham.  Corporal;  promoted  Sergeant;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Abram  Mosher,  Corporal;  discharged  soon  after  enlistment, 
John  C.  Hollister,  Corporal;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Orville  Manville   Corporal;  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;    detached  to  invalid  corps; 

promoted  to  Hospital  Steward,  and  honorably  discharged  at  close  of  war. 
John  Vauanden,  Corporal,  discharged  with  regiment. 

PRIVATES, 

George  D.  Wells,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Joseph  Willard  Allen,  discharged  with  regiment. 

William  H.  Allen,  killed  at  Peach  Tree  Creek. 

Wiufield  Butler,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Mark  Bourdeu,  deserted  at  Fairfax  Station,  Va. 

George  Brannock,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Thomas  Brvan,  discharged  for  disability. 

George  S.  Black,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment. 

George  H.  Beattie,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Hiram  T.  Blauchard,  discharged  with  regiment.     Now  editor  of  Fort  Edward  Gazette. 


2O2  REMINISCENCES    OF 

Joseph  Bogart,  discharged  for  disability. 

Frank  Gull,  killed  at  Chancellorsville. 

Jed.  Cull ,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Michael  Crowly,  wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  discharged  for  disability. 

Janif  s  Crowly,  discharged  with  regiment. 

»-ascal  L.  Cook,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment. 

James  Carroll,  discharged  for  disability. 

Henry  demons,  discharged  for  disability. 

John  Carle,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Edward  Crow,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Joseph  H.  Dilts.  died  in  hospital  at  Harper's  Ferry. 

Charles  Donohue,  died  in  hospital  at  Atlanta,  Ga. ;  buried  there. 

John  Douglass,  wounded  at  Cbaucellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Edward  H.  Day,  discharged  with  regiment. 

James  W.  Earls,  jr.,  supposed  to  have  been  drowned  in  the  Ohio  river  while  return 
ing  from  a  furlough . 

William  Foster,  discharged  with  regiment. 

George  Forget,  discharged  for  disability. 

George  Horton,  discbarged  with  regiment. 

William  Button,  jr.,  promoted  to  Sergeant;  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek  while  car 
rying  the  colors;  died  in  hospital  from  wounds;  buried  there. 

Wesley  P.  Huntington,  killed  at  Gettysburg;  buried  there. 

Henry  F.  Johnson,  wounded  at  Chauceliorsviile;  discharged  with  regiment;  died 
since  the  war. 

James  Killgallon,  wounded  twice  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  tor  disability. 

James  Htuiburt,  dischaiged  with  regiment. 

William  Holt,  killed  at  Chancellorsville;  buried  on  the  field. 

George  D   Kuowles,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Thomas  Kelley,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Patrick  Kinrey,  promoted  to  Corporal;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Lewis  King,  deserted  at  Fairtax  Station,  Va. 

William  P.  Lamb,  wounded  at  Chanctllorsville;  promoted  Lieutenant  of  U  S.  col 
ored  regiment;  discharged  after  the  war;  resides  in  New  York. 

George  W.  Lamb,  teamster;  discharged  with  regiment;  died  in  1878. 

Nathan  Leonard,  supposed  to  have  been  killed  at  Chiincellorsville. 

Georue  H.  Leonard,  killed  at  Chaucellorsville;  buried  on  the  lieid. 

Franklin  Moon,  wounded  at  ChanceJlorsville;  died  since  the  war. 

Charles  W.  Morris,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Thomas  McCarty,  discharged  with  regiment;  died  since  the  war. 

John  W.  Manning,  discharged  with  regiment, 

James  O'Reilly,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Daniel  O'Connor,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Napoleon  Meatt.  discharged  lor  disability. 

Charles  Rose,  deserted  at  Fairfax  Station,  Va. 

Charles  H.  Norton,  discharged  for  disability;  died  at  home. 

Horace  Pardo,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Joseph  Price,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Hie-hard  Scott,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Dauisl  Shields,  discharged  f»r  disability. 

John  Sears,  jr  ,  died  in  hospital  at  Savannah;  buried  there. 

John  C.  Smith,  promoted  Corporal;  discharged  with  regiment. 

David  H.  Sager,  killed  at  Chancellorsville;  buried  on  the  field. 

James  J  Sherman,  wounded  at  Uhancellorsville  twice;  discharged  with  regiment; 
drowned  in  Lake  Champlaiu  since  the  war. 

Michael  Tigh,  discharged  lor  disability. 

Henry  N.  Tafft,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Hiram  A   Tafft,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Andrew  J.  Tafft,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Hiram  Tafft.  jr.,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment;  drowned 
in  Lake  Champlain  in  1878. 

Richard  Terrill,  discharged  with  regiment. 

George  R.  Winn,  wounded  at  Uentonville,  N.  C.;  discharged  with  regimer.t. 

Joseph  Whitteu,  taken  prisoner  while  foraging;  discharged  with  regiment;  drowned 
since  the  war. 

Andrew  Wilson,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Nathan  Thompson,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Edsou  Whitney,  musician;  died  in  hospital  at  Harper's  1  erry. 


THE     I23J)    RKGIMENT.  2O3 

Andrew  A.  Buell,  on  detached  duty;  promoted  Lieutenant;  did  not  report  1'or  muster. 
Charles  Leet,  recruit;  transferred  to  60th  N.  Y.  regiment. 
William  Stevenson,  recruit;  transferred  to  60th  N.  Y.  regiment. 
Joseph  Barreit,  recruit;  transferred  to  60th  N.  Y.  regiment;  drowned  in  Lake  Cham- 
plain  since  the  war. 
Smith,  recruit;  transferred  to  00th  N.  Y.  regiment. 


D— PUTNAM,    DRESDEN,    FORT   ANN. 

The  towns  of  Putnam,  Dresden  and  Fort  Ann  were  designat 
ed  by  the  War  Committee  to  raise  one  company  for  the  reg 
iment.  Putnam  raised  30  men,  Dresden  14  and  Fort  Ann  67. 
These  towns  sent  the  fourth  company  to  the  rendezvous  at  Salem, 
99  men  in  all,  and  took  the  fourth  position  as  Co.  D.  The 
County  bounty  paid  was  $4,950  ;  State  bounty  the  same. 

COMMISSIONED     OFFICERS. 

John  Barrou.  Captain;  enlisted  at  Fort  Ann.  Date  of  commission  Sept.  10,  1862; 
date  of  rank  August  14,  1802;  dismissed  lor  absence  without  leave  Feb.  22,  1863. 

Alexander  Anderson,  enlisted  at  Putnam  as  1st  Lieutenant.  Date  ol  commission 
Seut.  10.  1862;  date  of  rank  August  14,  186'2;  promoted  Captain;  date  of  commis 
sion  May  21,  1863;  date  of  rank  February  22,  1863;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Edward  P.'Quiun  2d  Lieutenant:  enlisted  at  Fort  Ann;  date  of  commission  Septem 
ber  in,  1852;  date  of  rank,  August  14,  1862;  promoted  1st  Lieutenant;  date  of  com 
mission  May  21  1863;  date  of  rank  February  22,  1863;  wounded  at  Culp's  Farm; 
discharged  May  15,  1865. 

Willis  tswilt.  Jr.,  enlisted  at  Fort  Ann  as  Orderly  Sergeant:  promoted  2d  Lieutenant; 
date  of  cotnission  May  21,  1863;  date  of  rank  February  22,  1863;  detailed  to  com 
mand  ot  pioneer  and  ambulance  corps;  discharged  with  regiment. 

NON-COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS    AND    SOLDIERS    FROM    PUTNAM. 

Jarius  D.  Backus,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Levi  A.  Beldeu,  discharged  with  regiment. 

George  W.  Blair,  discharged  for  disability  February  23,  1863;  died  ofiever  February 

26,  1863.  at  Washington,  D.  C. 
Andrew  E.  Benson,  discharged  with  regiment. 

James  L.  Cummiugs.  Sergeant;  wounded  at  Dallas;  died  of  wound  soon  after. 
John  C.  Cummings,  discharged  with  regiment 
.Robert  I.  Cummiugs,  absent  from  regiment  since  July  17,  1864. 
Joseph  H.   Congdon.  discharged  with  regiment. 
Henry  A    Dedrick,  died  of  disease  at  Madison,  Ind.,  July  25,  1864. 
Darwin  Ea«ton,  died  of  disease  at  Stafford  Court  House,  Va.,  March.  1863. 
John  C.  Gourl:e.  Corporal;  promoted  sergeant;  discharged  with  regiment. 
James  H   Haynes   died  of  disease  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va  ,  November  15,  1862. 
James  D.  Leigh,  discharged  February  23.  1863;  re-enlisted   5th  Cavalry;  discharged. 
John  A.  Mci.aughlin,  Orderley  Sergeant;  enlisted  in  44th  regiment,  1861;  discharged; 

re-euhsted  in  123d  July  30.  1862;    discharged  with  regiment. 
Robert  Maxwell,  Corporal;  discharged  for  disability  January  13,  18C3. 
James  McLaughlin,  2d,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Kilbouru  A.  Miller,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Alexander  McLaughliu,  enlisted  April  16,   1861,  3d   Cavalry;  discharged;  re-enlisted 

in  123d  July  30.  1862;  died  of  diease  Dec.  1,  1863,  while  home  on  iurlough. 
William  Moore,  discharged  with  regiment. 
William  McLaughliu,  promoted  Corporal;  discharged  with  regiment. 


2O4  REMINISCENCES    OF 

Joseph  Petty,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Alexander  C.  Thompson,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  Feb.  12,  1863. 

James  M.  Vaughn,  discharged  with  regiment. 

George  T.  Wright,  Corporal. 

D.  Bay  Williamson.  Corporal;  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek;  discharged  with   reg't. 

William  Anderson,  jr.,  enlisted  Mar.  20,  1864;  died  of  disease  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn., 

November  15,  1864. 

Edwin  F.  Harvey,  enlisted  December  25,  1863;  transferred  to  60th  N.  Y. 
William  D.  McLaughliu,  enlistee!  March  1,  1864;  transferred  to  60th  N.  Y. 
Robert  McLaughliu,  enlisted  March  25,  1864;  transferred  to  60th  N.  Y. 

The  above  recruits  were  discharged  August  1,  1865. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS  AND   PRIVATES  FROM  DRESDEN. 

Charles  Bartholomew,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Joseph  Bartholomew,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Carter  Barrett,  discharged  for  disability  in  1862. 

Dennis  Barrett,  discharged  with  regiment, 

Thaddeus  Chubb,  discharged  with  regiment. 

8.  A.  Eastman,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Oscar  F.  Hopkins,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Baker  R.  Plew,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Royal  Plew.  discharged  with  regiment. 

Amos  Walker,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Asahel  Ward,  died  of  fever  at  Stafford  Court  House,  Va. 

James  F.  Wallace,  discharged  with  regiment 

Joseph  Young,  discharged  with  regiment. 

James  Platt,  recruit;  enlisted  March  25,  1«64;  discharged  July  17,  1865. 

NON-COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS   AND    PRIVATES   FROM   FORT   ANN. 

R.  C.  Bull,  Corporal;  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Charles  Blanchard,  discharged  with  regiment, 

Edward  Blaiichard,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Orson  Brinor,  wounded  at  Dal'as;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Orrin  Belden,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Orestes  G.  Batchelder,  detailed  as  Hospital  Steward;    discharged  with  regiment. 

James  Cunningham,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Marvin  Chase,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Daniel  O'Connor,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Timothj  Crowly,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Horace  Chase,  discharged  for  disability,  1863. 

George  W.  Chase,  discharged  with  regiment. 

William  O.  Clark,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Leonard  Corning,  promoted  Hospital  Steward,  regiment,  brigade  and  division;  dis 
charged  with  regiment 

Thomas  Dana,  discharged  for  disability  1863. 

Levi  Eaton,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Jeremiah  Finch,  killed  at  Chaucellorsville. 

Andrew  J.  Fisher,  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  Fuller,  discharged  for  disability  1863. 

Ransom  O.  Fisher,  accidentally  killed  with  revolver  at  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  Dec.,  1863. 

John  Green,  discharged  for  disability  1863. 

Charles  Grout,  died  of  disease  at  Chattanooga,  June,  1863. 

William  B.  Heddlestoii,  discharged  for  disibihty  1863. 

Peter  L.  Haskins,  detailed  as  Hospital  Steward;  discharged  with  regiment. 

William  Henderson,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Joel  Harvey,  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek;  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  Hall,  wounded  at  Chaucellorsvilie;  discharged  with  regiment. 

George  F.  I.  Kingsley,  Corporal,  discharged  for  disability  1863, 

William  H.  Lootuis,  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  Lesson,  discharged  with  regiment. 

James  H   Loomis,  died  of  di.-ease  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  in  1863. 

Isaac  McNutt,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  died  of  wounds  May  15,  1863,  at  Acquia 
Creek.  Va. ;  supposed  to  be  buried  there, 

James  M.  Mattisou,  died  of  disease,  1863. 

Albert  Mattison,  discharged  for  disability  1863. 

George  Mattison,  died  of  disease  1862. 

Eli  Mattison,  detailed  as  butcher;  discharged  with  regiment. 


THE     I  2  31)    REGIMENT.  2O: 


Keuben  W.  Martin,  died  of  disease,  1862. 

Walter  F.  Martin,  promoted  to  Sergeant-Major;  to  Lieutenant;  detailed  for  staff  duty; 

taken  prisoner  at  Culp'is  Farm;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Alexander   Nicholson,   Corporal;    wounded  at   Chaucellorsville;    taken  prisoner  in 

Georgia,  and  remained  a  prisoner   until  after  the  clcse  of  the  war. 
Claaries  Nicholson,  discharged  for  disability,  1863. 
Geo.ge  Pattisou,  Corporal;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Alien  Pine,  transferred  to  Battery  i ,  Artillery,  for  one  year;  discharged  June  8,  '65. 
K.  P.  Rich,  discharged  for  disability  1803. 

Edward  Kice,  died  of  disease  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  December,  1862. 
Page  Rovvell,  discharged  for  disability  1803. 
Nathaniel  S.  Kowell,  promoted  Corporal;  served  one  year  as  scout;  discharged  with 

regiment. 

Seymour  D.  liich,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Henry  Sartwell,  Sergeant;  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  at  Gulp's  Farm;  discharged 

with   regiment. 

Julius  Swift,  detailed  to  ambulance  corps;  discharged  with  regiment 
Barney  Stiaudiey,  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek;  died  ot  wounds  soon  after. 
George  hhelden,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Phineas  M.  Spencer,  discharged  for  disability,  1863. 

Oliver  tf.  Sm.tli,  taken  prisoner  at  Culp's  Farm;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Bvron  Tro  abridge. 

Job  Vaughn,  promoted  Sergeant;  detailed  to  color  guard;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Frank  Van  Wormer,  drummer:  discharged  with  regiment. 
Albert  Woodruff,  wounded  at  Cassville;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Charles  Welch,  detailed  to  ambulance  corps;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Daniel  Wagner,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Theodore  Williams,  discharged  with  reginent. 
Philip  McWuorter,  discharged  for  disability  1863. 
Lewis  Walker,  discharged  lor  disability  1863. 
Edward  Kaymo,  recruit;  enlisted  April,  1804;  transferred  to  00th  N.  Y. ;  discharged; 

re-enlisted  in  U.  S.  regiment;  wounded  at  New  Orleans;  promoted  Sergeant;  died 

at  Hartford  in  January,  1875. 
Albert  Corbett  was  not  old  enough  to  enlist  but  was  bound  to   go.     He  joined  Co.  D. 

at  Salem,  and  after  reaching  Washington  was  mustered;  discharged  with  regiment. 


CO.  E— HARTFORD  AND  HEBRON. 

Hartford  and  Hebron  raised  134  men  for  the  12 3d  Regiment, 
Hartford  69  men  and  Hebron  65.  This  was  more  than  enough 
for  one  company,  so  when  they  reached  Salem  Capt.  Weer  se 
lected  the  best  men,  arid  the  balance  were  transferred  to  the  oth 
er  companies.  This  accounts  for  Co.  E  having  such  a  fine 
looking  body  of  men,  most  of  them  being  large  and  well  formed, 
and  of  about  the  same  height.  Hartford  adopted  appropriate 
measures  to  fill  her  quota,  and  the  demand  for  men  and  means 
was  met  by  a  cheerful  and  hearty  response.  Hebron  appointed 
the  following  committee  to  aid  in  securing  men  to  fill  her  quota: 
Dr.  Charles  J.  White,  John  8.  McFarland,  Hon.  S.  E.  Spoor 


2O6  REMINISCENCES    OF 

and  John  M.  Rea.  The  company  from  Hartford  and  Hebron 
was  the  fifth  to  reach  the  rendezvous  at  Salem,  and  took  position 
in  the  regiment  as  Co.  E,  receiving  $5,350  in  bounty. 

COMMISSIONED      OFFICERS. 

Norman  F.  Weer,  Captain.  Date  of  commission  September  10,  1862;  date  of  rank 
August  20,  1862;  wounded  at  ChancellorsviJle;  wounded  at  Gettysburg,  and  died 
of  wound  soon  after.  The  soldiers  ot  his  company  sent  the  body  home  to  Hartford 
at  their  own  expense,  where  he  was  buried  with  Masonic  honors  by  Herschel 
Lodge,  of  which  he  was  a  member.  The  luneral  was  the  largest  ever  held  in  that 
town. 

George  R  Hall,  1st  Lieutenant.  Date  of  commission  September  10,  1862;  date  of 
rank  August  20,  1862.  Promoted  Captain:  date  of  commission  Oct.  15,  1803;  date 
of  rack  July  26,  1863;  discharged  with  regiment;  now  resides  at  Iowa  City.  Iowa. 

Seth  C.  Cary,  2d  Lieutenant.  Date  of  commission  September  10,  1862;  date  of  rank 
August  20,  1862;  promoted  1st  Lieutenant;  date  of  commission  October  20,  1808; 
date  of  rank  July '26,  1863;  promoted  to  Adjutant  March  15  1864;  wounded  at 
Peach  Tree  Creek;  discharged  with  regiment;  now  resides  in  Massachusetts. 

John  H.  Daicy,  Orderly  Sergeant;  promoted  2d  Lieutenant.  Date  of  commission 
October  21,  1863;  date  of  rank  July  26,  1863;  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek  July 
20,  1864,  and  died  two  days  afterwards  of  his  wounds.  His  body  was  brought 
home  and  buried  with  Masonic  honors  by  Herschel  Lodge,  F,  and  A.  M.,  of  which 
he  was  a  member. 

Harlon  P.  Wait,  enlisted  as  a  private;  promoted  2d  Lieutenant  May  6,  1864;  date  of 
commission  March  15,  1864;  date  of  rank  July  30,  1863;  promoted  1st  Lieutenant; 
date  of  commission  January  31,  1865;  date  of  rank  January  12,  1865;  discharged 
with  regiment;  now  resides  at  Catlett  Station,  Va. 

Duane  M.  Hall,  Corporal;  promoted  Sergeant  November  1,  1862;  promoted  Sergeant 
Major  January  14,  1864;  promoted  2d  Lieutenant;  date  of  commission  January  31, 
1864;  date  of  rank  January  12,  1864;  discharged  with  regiment;  resides  at  North 
Greenwich. 

NON-COMMISSIONED   OFFICEBS. 

Harvey  Reynolds,  Sergeant;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Douglas  Potter,  Sergeant;  promoted  Orderly  Sergeant  November  11,  1863;  dis 
charged  with  regiment, 

Charles  H.  Barker,  Sergeant;  deserted  in  London  Valley,  Va.,  December  1.  1862. 

Peter  Boushe.  Sergeant;  wounded  at  Averysboro;    discharged  with  regiment. 

Sidney  B.  Weer,  Corporal,  translerred  to  V.  R.  C.  February  16,  1864,  on  account  ot 
wounds  received  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged. 

William  J  Beattie,  Corporal;  promoted  Sergeant  February  15,  1864;  discharged  with 
regiment. 

William  J.  McMillen,  Corporal;  promoted  Sergeant  November  11,  1863;  discharged 
with  regiment. 

Robert  McEachron,  Corporal;  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek;  discharged  with  reg't. 

Thomas  McCarty,  Corporal;  discharged  October  13,  1863,  for  disability. 

Franklin  Woodard,  Corporal;  wounded  at  Dallas;  discharged. 

Joseph  Tullier,  Corporal;  wounded  at  Chaucellorsville;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C. 
April  19,  1864;  discharged. 

PRIVATES. 

Arthur  Whitlock,  musician;  wounded  on  picket  line  near  Stafford  Court  House,  Va., 
June  6,  1H63;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.  November  15.  1863;  discharged. 

Daniel  M.  Chapman,  musician;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Albert  M.  Adams,  discharged  with  regiment. 

William  H.  Armstrong,    discharged  with  regiment. 

Frank  Archamboult,  wounded  at  Gulp's  Farm,  and  died  on  the  cars  while  being 
carried  to  Chattanooga,  Tenn . 

Byron  Briggs,  killed  at  Chancellorsville. 

William  Burke,  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  Bell,  killed  at  Gettysburg 

Darius  J.  Brown,  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Elliott  Bnreh,  wounded  at  Culp'a  B'arm;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Alexancer  Beveridge,  died  in  hospital  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  December  18,  1862. 

Abel  M.  Barker,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Dennis  Baker,  discharged  with   regiment. 

William  Chamberlain,  on  detached  service;  discharged  June  16,  1805. 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  2Oy 

William  V.  Crosier,  discharged  for  disability  May  13,  1863. 

James  A.  Crosier,  discharged  for  disability  February  19,  1^63. 

Chauncey  P.  Coy,    discharged  with  regiment.     Now  resides  at  Waterloo,  Neb. 

Charles  P.  Churchill,  discharged  for  disability  April  13,  1865. 

George  Donally,  killed  at  Peach  Tree  Creek. 

Edward  Durling,  wounded  at  Gulp's  Farm;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Patrick  Dolau,  discharged  with  regiment. 

James  Dickinson,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Edward  Forsyth,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Wliliam  Graham,  wounded  at  Chaucellorsville;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C;  discharged. 

Alvah  Gray,  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek;  discharged  with  regiment. 

William  J.  Gilchrist,  died  at  Fairfax  Station,  Va.,  January  6,  1863. 

bmith  Hewett;  died  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va  ,  December  18,  1862 

Julius  H.  Higley,  appointed  1st  Lieutenant  109th  regiment,  U.  S.  colored  troops, 
June  30.  1864;  promoted  Captain  in  same;  in  Texas  from  June  1,  1865,  |o  March. 
1866;  discharged  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  March  15,  1866. 

Adolphus  D.  Hatch,  promoted  Corporal  March  1,  1864;  discharged  with  regiment 

James  A.  Henry,  promoted  Corporal  March  1,  1864;  discharged  with  regiment. 

James  Johnson,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Adolphus  Jeff  way,  died  at  Atlanta,  feept.  18,  1864. 

Andrew  J.  King    discharged  with  regiment. 

Aaron  Loveland,  discharged  with  regiment. 

George  Lattimer,  discharged  with  regiment. 

William  Lackey,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Walter  Lackey,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Marcus  L.  Liddle,  discharged  with  regiment. 

William  ll.  Ladd,  promoted  Corporal  December  1,  1862;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Marvin  W.  Liddle,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Martin  Murphy,  wounded  near  Marietta,  Ga.,  June  24,  1864;    discharged  with  reg't 

John  H.  Moore,  promoted  Corporal  March  1,   1864.-  discharged  with  regiment. 

(leorge  T.  Morris,  on  detached  service  as  blacksmith;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Thomas  Mahaffy,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Ira  Munson,  died  of  measles  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  February  16,  1863. 

James  A.  McEachron,  died  in  camp  at  Loudon,  Va.,  December  5,  1862. 

Henry  Mclutyre,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Mason  Megan,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Patrick  McKiuua,  wounded  at  Averysboro;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Francis  Mow,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Harlau  P.  Martin,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Andrew  G,  McMillan,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Heury  C.  Miller,  discharged  August  16,  1864,  to  accept  a  commission  as  1st  Lieuten 
ant  U.  S.  C.  T. 

William  Murphy,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Oscar  B.  Nelson,  discharged  for  disability  July  13,  1863. 

Jamea  A.  Norton,  promoted  Sergeant;  killed  at  Chancellorsville. 

Luther  M.  Park,  wounded  at  Keuesaw  Mountain;  discharged  with  regiment. 

James  Pollock,  brigade  blacksmith ;    discharged  with  regiment. 

John  Patterson,    discharged  with  regiment. 

Ransom  Qua.  promoted  Corporal  March  1,  1865;  discharged  with  regiment, 

Wesley  Rasey,  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  Riley,  deserted  from  hospital  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  February  16,  1863. 

Andrew  H.  Reynolds,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Amos  Rhodes,  wounded  at  Chancelloreiville;  promoted  Corporal  July  1,  1864;  dis 
charge' I  with  regiment. 

Nathan  Raymond,  died  at  Stafford  Court  House  February  16,  18G3. 

James  M.  Reynolds   discharged  with  regiment. 

Erastus  Scovillo.  discharged  with  regiment. 

James  Shevlin.  discharged  with  regiment. 

Philo  Smith,  died  of  measles  April  24,  1865. 

Samuel  wtiles,  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek;  discharged  with  regiment. 

William  M.  Smith,  driver  in  Ambulance  Corps;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Hiram  L.  Thomas,  died  in  hospital  at  Harper's  Ferry,  November  30,  1862. 

Edward  L.  Tanner,  wounded  and  prisoner  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  reg't. 

Charles  Thompson,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Edward  L.  Vance,  wagoner;  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  Wright,  wounded  at  Culp's  Farm ;  died  in  prison  hospital  at  Atlanta,  July  3,  '64. 

James  Waugh,  discharged  for  disability,  January  24,  1863. 


2O8  REMINISCENCES    OF 

William  H.  Warner,  deserted  January  22,  1863. 

Myron  Wood,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Alba  Wood,  discharged  for  disability  March  19,  1863. 

Philip  Washburu,  discharged  with  regiment. 

William  J.    Whitlock,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Mortimer  Wood,  discharged  lor  disability  March  25,  1863. 

Philander  Whitney,  discharged  for  disability  April  9,  1863. 

Daniel  R.  Wilds,  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.  March  15,  1864;  discharged. 

RECRUITS. 

Clarence  White,  enlisted  August  9,  1864,  for  one  year;  discharged  with  regiment. 
James  H.  Donaldson,  enlisted  February  20,  1864;  discharged  from  hospital  at  Phila 
delphia.  May  3,  1865. 

John  Anderson,  enlisted  March  28,  1864;  tranferred  to  60th  N.  Y.  regiment. 
Levi  Baker,  enlisted  February  15,  1864;  trausfc-rred  to  6i'th  N.  Y.  regiment. 
John  Dudley,  enlisted  April  4,  1864;  transferred  to  60th  N.  Y.  regiment. 
William  Elliott,  enlisted  February  23,  1864;  transferred  to  C(  th  N.  Y.  regiment. 
John  O.  Holland,  enlisted  February  25, 1864;  transferred  to  With  N,  Y.  regiment. 
Lawrence  Law,  enlisted  March  28,  1864;  transferred  to  60th  N.  Y.  regiment. 
Henry  B.  Stiles,  enlisted  January  30,  1864;  transferred  to  60th  N.  Y.  regiment. 
Joseph  Orcutt,  enlisted  February  15,  1864;  transferred  to  6()th  N.  Y.  regiment. 
Thomas  Clark,  enlisted  February  8,  1864;  died  in  hospital  at  Albany,  March  22  1864. 
John  Patrick  enlisted  September  1,  1864;  died  in  hospital  at  Savannah,  Jan.  21,  1865. 


CO.    F— ARGYLE. 

Argyle  was  not  wanting  in  the  support  of  the  Government  in 
the  trying  hours  of  the  late  civil  war.  The  taxes  for  the  encour 
agement  of  enlistment  during  the  four  years  aggregated  nearly 
$100,000.  Alexander  Barkley,  John  Gillis,  James  Hall,  C.  G. 
Harsha,  J.  McCall,  E.  Hill,  W.  D.  Robertson,  William  Len- 
drurn,  Henry  Shepherd,  William  Clapp  and  T.  McN.  Congdon, 
were  a  War  Committee,  and  their  action  secured  the  requisite 
quotas.  This  town  sent  out  one  company  of  100  men  with  the 
1 23d  Regiment,  and  enlisted  them  between  July  24th  and  Au 
gust  22d,  1862,  all  but  six  enlisting  at  Argyle,  viz  :  John  Scott, 
James  T.  Hay  and  William  Sheffield  enlisting  at  Greenwich  ; 
Samuel  Johnson  and  W.  J.  Copeland  at  Hebron,  and  Alexander 
Reid  at  Hartford.  The  company  was  the  sixth  to  reach  Salem, 
and  took  position  in  the  Regiment  as  Co.  F,  receiving  $4,850 
bounty  from  the  County,  and  the  same  from  the  State. 


COMMISSION-MI)      OKKH'KRS. 


Duncan  Robertson,  Captain.  Date  of  commission,  September  10,  1862;  date  of  rank, 
August  22,  1862;  discharged  with  regiment;  is  now  a  farmer  at  Argyle. 

Donald  Reid,  1st  Lieutenant.  Date  of  commission,  Sept.  10,  1862;  date  of  rai.k  Au 
gust  22,  1862;  discharged  with  regiment;  is  now  a  farmer  in  Argyle. 

George  flobmson,  2d  Lieutenant.     Date  of  commission,  September  10.  1862;  date  of 


THE    I23D    REGIMENT.  209 

rant?,  August  22,  1862;  promoted  1st  Lieutenant  Co.  C;  served  on  Gen.  Williams' 
staff  for  about  two  years;  discharged  with  regiment;  now  Chaplain  at  Ft.  Beauford, 
Walter  F.  Martin,  2d  Lieutenant;  was  Sergeant-Mai  or  of  the  rtgiment;  was  promot 
ed  to  the  place  of  George  Kobinsou.  Date  of  commission  October  21,  1863;  date 
of  rank,  February  11,  1863;  was  taken  prisoner  June  22d  at  Culp's  Farm;  escaped 
irom  prison  and  joined  the  regiment  at  Atlanta  the  following  winter;  discharged 
with  regiment;  don't  know  where  he  is. 

NON-COMMISSIONED     OFFICEES. 

Andrew  L  Crawford  Sergeant;  promoted  Quartermaster;  discharged  with  regiment; 

is  now  a  merchant  at  Fort  Edward. 

Daniel  M.  White,  Sergeant;  discharged  with  regiment;  now  a  hotel  keeper  in  Salem. 
George  hcott,  Sergeant;  trauslerred  to  10th  U.  8.1.  July  16th,  1864;    is  now  a  law 
yer  at  Fort  Edward. 

William  J.  McCollum,  Sergeant;  discharged  with  regiment;  now  a  farmer  in  Salem. 
Sylvester  Me  Murray.  Sergeant;  discharged  with  regiment;  now  a  farmer  in  Argyle. 
John  French.  Sergeant;  discharged  with  regiment;  died  at  Lake,  Washington 

county.  N    Y.,  January  22d  1878. 
George  L.  Robinson,  Sergeant;  discharged  for  disability  April  21st,  1863;  died  at  Ar- 

gyle  July  II,  1863. 
Jacob  Williams,  sergeant;  discharged  lor  disability  September  25th,  1864;    died  at 

Argyle,  December  1st   1864. 
James  .VI.  Rowan,  Sergeant;  wounded  at  Culp's  Farm;  died  from  effects   of  wound, 

June  24th,  18.14. 
John  R.  Me  Milieu,  Sergeant;  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek  July  20  1864;  discharged 

with  regiment;  is  now  a  farmer  in  Fort  Edward. 
John  Martin,  Corporal;  was  wounded  in  leg  at  Culp's  Farm,   rendering  amputation 

necessary;  was  discharged  from  hospital;  is  now  in  Custom  House  at  Plattsburgh, 
Robert  Smith.  Corporal;  discharged  with  regiment;  is  now  a  farmer  in  Argjle. 
Daniel  M.  McClellau,  Corporal;  was  wounded  at  Chaucellorsville;    discharged    with 

regiment;   is  now  living  at  Leavenworth,  Kansas. 
Andrew  H.  McWhorter,  Corporal;  lost  an  arm  at  Peach  Tree  Creek;  discharged  from 

hospital;  is  now  living  at  Lawrance,  Kansas. 

Schuyler  Durkee,  Corporal;  discharged  with  regiment;  now  a  farmer  in  Ft.  Edward. 
Duncan  R.  McDougall,  Corporal;  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  reg- 

imeut;  is  now  a  farmer  in  Hebron. 
Theodore  Stanley,  Corporal;  discharged  for  disability  March  23,  1863;    is  now  living 

at  Poultney,  Vt. 
Alexander  Robinson,  Corporal;  discharged  for  disability  December  1st,  1862;    died 

at  Argvle  July  4th,  1863. 
ItusHcll  Fullerton,  Corporal;  wounded  at  Chancellorsville  and  at  Peach  Tree  Creek: 

discharged  March  14th,  1865;  now  resides  near  Lawrence,  Kansas. 
James  Schernierhoru,  Corporal;  transferred  to  V.  li.  C.  May  3d  1863:    died   at  South 

Argyle  March  26,  1867. 

PRIVATES. 

William  J.  Armstrong,  discharged  for  disability  Jan.  4,  1864;  now  a  farmer  in  Argyle. 

John  Bain,  discharged  with  regiment;  now  working  on  a  farm  in  Argyle 

William  Brady,   wounded   at  Chancellorsville;    discharged  with  regiment:    died  at 

Buffalo.  Keb..  in  1870. 
Garner  Baker,  at  Chancellorsville  was  known  to  be  wounded,  but  was   never  heard 

from;  supposed  to  have  died  there. 

George  K.  Bain,  discharged  for  disability  Nov.  30,  1862;  died  at  Argyle  Jan.  7,   1863. 
Orlando  D.  Beattie,  discharged  with  regiment;  now  a  larmer  in  Greenwich. 
William  J.  Copelaud.  discharged  with  regiment;  now  a  farmer  in  Argyle. 
Joseph  Cartwright,  died  April  21,  18(35. 
Williem  R.  Campbell,  wounded  at  Dallas:  discharged  with  regiment;    was  killed  by 

the  cars  in  the  western  part  of  the  state  in  1877. 
Simon  D.  Curtis,  discharged  June  13,  1863. 

James  H  .  Crawford,  discharged  with  regiment:  died  at  Fort  Edward  Jan.  3,  1877. 
Olark  Curtis,  discharged  with  regiment;  now  living  in  Greenwich. 
Robert  J.  Cronk,  wounded  at  Gettysburg;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.  Feb.  15, 1864;  wagon 

maker  at  Sandy  Hill. 

Charles  Carter,  discharged  with  regiment;  now  living  in  Vermont 
James  Currius.  discharged  with  regiment;  now  living  in  Argyle. 
Janies  S.  Dobbin,  wounded  at  Chaucellorsville;  discharged  wiih  regiment;  died  in 

Salem,  July  27,  1867. 


2IO  REMINISCENCES    OF 

Charles  Dings,  taken  prisoner  March  9,  18G5;  discharged  at  close  of  war;    nuw  a  far 
mer  in  Argylo. 

Thomas  Denuisou,  discharged  with  regiment;  now  living  in  Argyle. 
Stokes  Ellsworth,  discharged  with  regiment;  now  living  at  Lake  George,  N.  Y. 
William  H.  Emerson,  died  Feb.  10,  1863. 
Theodore  Haggart,  died  January  6,  1863. 
Henry  G.  Huichens,  died  January  15,  1803. 

Henry  C.  Hopkins,  discharged  August  2G,  18(53;  don't  know  where  he  is. 
Henry  Irwin,   transferred  to  V.  It.  C.  July  10,  1863;  discharged  ai  close  of  war;  now 

lives  in  Argyle. 
David  Irwin,  wounded  May  10,    1865,  near   Goldsboro;    discharged   with  regiment: 

died  in  Argyle  September  2,  1866. 

Archibald  Kiilmer,  discharged  with  regiment;  now  lives  in  Nebraska. 
William  T.  Knickerbocker,  wounded  at  Dallas;  discharged  at  close  of  war;  is  farmer 

in  Argyle. 
Ebenezer  Kinney,  lost  an  arm  at  Perch  Tree  Creek;  discharged  at  close    of  war;    is 

now  living  at  Austin,  Minn. 

William  A.  Lant,  discharged  tor  disability  March  16,  1863;  died  in  Argyle  Dec.  9,  '68. 
Joseph  Laport,  discharged  for  disability   March  16,    1863;     in    1864  reenlisted,    and 

was  transferred  to  the  60th  N.  Y.  June  3d,  1865;  living  in  Pennsylvania. 
William  Lackey,  discharged  with  regiment;  now  living  in  Argyle. 
Patrick  Maloue,  taken  prisoner  at  Gulp's  Farm,  and  died  in  prison. 
John  Murray,  deserted. 
John  M.  McMnrray,   wounded  at  Peach  Tree   Creek,   and  dibcharged  February  16, 

1865;  died  iu  Argyle  in  February,  1872. 
Joseph  Morrish,  died  Octob  r  28,  1864. 
George  Mickle,  wounded  at  Culp's  Farm;  discharged  with  regiment;    is  now   living 

at  Deervanesburgh  Centre,  is  a  blacksmith. 

Matthew  McCandless,  discharged  for  disabiLty  June  9,  1863;  is  now  living  at  Sand 
wich,  111. 

Alexander  [.  McDougall,  discharged  for  disability  June  9,  1863;  now  living  in  Salem. 
John  McCloskey,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Moses  L.  McNeil,  discharged  with   regiment;  now  living  at  Argyie. 
William  H.  Morrison,  discharged  with  regiment;    don't  know  where  he  is. 
George  McKibbou,  wounded  at  Chaucellorsville  and  taken  prisoner,  and   died   while 

in  prison 
William  J.  Nelson,  wounded  May  10,  near  Goldsboro;    discharged   with   regiment; 

now  living  in  Troy. 
Duncan  A.  Peterson,  taken  prisoner  May  3d,  1863;  discharged  with  regiment;  living 

in  Iowa. 

James  E.  Perry,  discharged  with  regiment;  now  resides  In  Argyle. 
Robert  A.  Pendergraes,  discharged  w  th  regiment;  died  in  Troy,  in  1877. 
John  E.  Kexstraw,  discharged  with  regiment;  now  living  iu  New  York  city. 
Peter  Bobbins,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  March  24,  1864;  driver  on 

Erie  canal. 
Thomas  Rogers,  wounded  at  New  Hope  Church,  Ga.;  discharged  at  close  of  the  war; 

now  living  in  Salem. 

Orville  C.  Robinson,  discharged  with  regiment;  now  living  in  Argyle. 
George  H.  Robinson,  lost  an  arm  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga.;  discharged  at  close  of 

war;  now  living  in  Argyle 

Zenas  S.  Kobinson,  discharged  January  2(5,  1863;  now  living  in  Argyle. 
Alexander  Reid,  discharged  with  regiment;  now  living  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  harness 

maker , 

Charles  R.  Reid,  discharged  with  regiment;  now  living  near  Crowfordsville,  Iowa. 
Harvey  M.  Reid    died  February  26,  1863. 

Clark  Rice,  promoted  to  Commissary  Sergeant;  living  at  Cambridge,  N.  Y. 
William  C.   Skellie,  wounded  at  Chauceilorsville;    discharged  with  reg'rnent;  now 

living  at  Argyle. 

David  G.  Stewart,  killed  at  Culp's  farm,  Ga.,  June  22,  1864. 
Abner  Q.  Scott,  discharged  with  regiment;  now  living  in  Argyle. 

William  H.  Scott,  discharged  with  regiment;  died  at  (Syracuse,  N,  Y. 
John  Scott,  wounded  at  Culp's  Farm;    discharged  with  regiment;  died  in  the  West. 
William  H.  Smith,  wounded  at  Chaucellorsville;   discharged  with  regiment;    now  a 

farmer  in  Nebraska. 

John  T.  Selfridge,  discharged  with  regiment;  now  living  in  Newburgh  N.  Y.;  farmer. 
James  Stow,  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek;  discharged  January  20,  1865;  now  living 

iu  Canada. 


THE    I23U    REGIMENT.  211 

Russell  C.  Smith,  discharged  with  regiment;  now  a  farmer  in  Aigyle. 

James  W.  Taylor,  discharged  with  regiment;  now  a  wagon  maker  in  Argyle. 

George  L.  Taylor,  supposed  to  have  been  killed  at  Chancellorsville. 

Christopher  VVillison.  discharged  with  regiment;  died  at  North  Argyle  Jan.  25,  1868. 

Robert  Williams  taken  prisoner  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment;  now 
a  farmer  in  Argyle. 

John  D.  Williams,  discharged  with  regiment;  now  living  near  Crawfordsvillc,  Iowa. 

William  J.  Wood,  killed  at  Chancellorsville. 

Simon  Tucker,  discharged  with  regiment;  now  living  in  Argyle. 

Taylor  A.  Hopkins,  killed  at  Peach  Iree  Creek. 

James  Y.  Hay,  wounded  at  Ilesaca;  discharged  with  regiment;  died  in  Hebron,  Feb 
ruary  26,  1879. 

William  Sheffield,  discharged  at  close  of  wur;  now  living  in  Greenwich. 

Samuel  Johnson,  died  while  connected  with  the  army. 

James  H.  Couklin,  discharged  April  21,  1863;  now  living  at  Fort  Edward. 

Jacob  Mickle.  discharged  with  regiment;  died  at  West  Fort  Ann,  October  18,  1874. 

EECEUITB. 

John  Mic-kle,  a  blacksmith  at  Fort  Edward. 

Charles  Bearheau,  Henry  C.  Carter,  James  Farrel. 

The  following  enlisted  in  the  145th  N.  Y.,  from  New  York  city,  and  were  trans 
ferred  to  Co   F,  123d  N   Y.  S.  V.  January,  1864: 

Philip  S.  Clark,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Harry  C.  Darnels,  discharged  with  regiment. 

William  H.  Dempsy.  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  Delraore,  taken  prisoner  March  9,  1865;  discharged  at  close  of  war. 

John  Y.  Godfery,  discharged  with  Regiment. 

Barney  Fox,  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  Byrne,  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek;  discharge,  reason  of  wounds,  Jan 
uary  19,  1865. 


CO.  G— WHITECREEK  AND  JACKSON. 

The  towns  of  Whitecreek  and  Jackson  sent  out  89  men  in 
1862  in  the  1231!  Regiment.  At  a  special  town  meeting  held  at 
the  house  of  Edward  Long,  Whitecreek,  October  30,"  1862,  L. 
W.  Gunn  presided  and  D.  M.  Westfall  was  clerk.  Supervisor 
John  Larmon  was  authorized  to  borrow  money  on  the  credit  of 
the  town  to  pay  $200  bounty  to  each  recruit  necessary  to  fill 
quota.  In  1864  E.  W.  Crosby,  John  Larmon,  Joseph  Merchant 
and  Supervisor  George  Barker  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
procure  men  for  the  town  under  the  call  of  the  President.  Jack 
son  promptly  met  all  calls  for  troops.  The  company  from 
Whitecreek  and  Jackson  took  seventh  position  in  the  Regiment 
as  Co.  G,  and  received  a  County  bounty  of  $4,450,  and  a  State 
bounty  of  the  same. 


212  REMINISCENCES    OF 

COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS. 

Heury  C.  Gray,  Captain.  Date  of  commission.  September  10,  1SG2;  date  of  rank, 
August  22,  I8G2;  promoted  Major  February  2),  1865;  discharged  with  regiment. 

James  Hill,  1st  Lieutenant.  Date  of  commission  September  10,  1862;  date  of  rank, 
August  22,  1862;  promoted  Captain;  date  of  commission  February  7,  1865;  date 
of  rank,  November  19,  1864,  discharged  with  regiment 

Charles  Archer,  2d  Lieutennut.  Date  of  commission,  September  10,  1862;  date  of 
rank,  August  21,  1862;  resigned  February  17,  1863. 

William  S.  Warner,  ^ergeaut;  promoted  Orderly  Sergeant.  June  2,  186:>,  and  1st  Lieu 
tenant  February  7,1865;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Jerome  B.  Rice,  Orderly  Sergeant;  promoted  2d  Lieutenant  May  21,  1863;  taken 
prisoner  at  Chancellorsville;  transferred  to  Signal  Corps;  discharged. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS  AND    PRIVATES. 

Robert  Alexander,  promoted  Corporal  April,  1865;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Henry  L.  Arnold  promoted  Corporal;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Charles  W.  Arnold,  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  W.  Bailey,  discharged  to  accept  appointment  as  Hospital  Steward  in  regular 
army. 

Ferner  Bennett. 

Komaine  Bennett,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Hiram  W.  Brown,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment. 

James  H.  Bennett,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Martin  Bennett,  was  in  hospital  at  Jeffersonville,  Ind.;  no  discharge  given. 

Peter  Cowan,  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek  ;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Henry  Colter,  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Clarence  Colter,  died  in  hospital  at  Alexandria  of  wounds  received  at  Chancellorsville. 

Lay  ton  Coon,  discharged  w;th  regiment. 

George  Clark,  discharged  December  9,  1SG4,  on  account  of  wounds. 

Flavins  J.  Cornell,  promoted  Corporal:  discharged  with  regiment. 

Andrew  J.  Coon,  died  of  disease  at  Stafford  Court  House,  February  19,  18K3. 

John  Cavanah,  discharged  with  regime.nt 

Andrew  B.  Cone,  enlisted  December  31,  1863;  transferred  to  60th  N,  Y.;  discharged 
July  31,  1865 

Joseph  Carter,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Peter  Crumble,  wounded  at  Dallas;  died  June  G,  1864. 

Ezra  Dibble,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Charles  W.  Decker. 

E.  S.  Edgertou,  Sergeant,  discharged  to  receive  commission  in  U.  s.  C.  regiment. 

DeWitt  F.  Eldridge,  Corporal;  promoted  Sergeant;    discharged  with  regiment. 

Alexander  Ellis,  discharged  November  1.  1863,  for  wounds  received  at  Chancellors 
ville;  reenlisted  February  27,  1865,  in  same  compmy;  discharged  with  regiment. 

James  S.  Esmann,  musician;  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  8.  Fowler,  deserted. 

Ueorge  E,  Fentou,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Henry  C.  Fowler,  enlisted  August  29   1864,  one  year:   discharged  with  regiment. 

John  M.  Fuller  discharged  with  regiment. 

Hiram  T.  Gray,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Joseph  Gilbert,  promoted  to  Corporal;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Manville  Hart,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Charles  Hoffman  deserted. 

Duncan  Howe,  discharged  for  disability,  February  23,  1863. 

ArtemasC.  Harrington,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Peter  Henry,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Hiram  King,  discharged  for  disability,  January  4.  1864. 

John  Luddy,  taken  prisoner  at  Gulp's  Farm;  at  Audcrsouville;  exchanged;  dis 
charged  with  regiment. 

David  C.  Lamb,  taken  prisoner  at  Gulp's  Farm;  at  Andersonville,  Savannah,  etc,; 
exchanged;  discharged  with  regiment 

Lelloy  Larrabee,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Clark  H.  Lawton,  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek;  discharged  June  25,  1865. 

George  W.  Lambert,  wounded  at  Chaucellorsville;  discharged  for  disability,  Sep 
tember  25,  1863. 

Isaiah  Mattison,  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  McComber,  wounded  and  died  at  Chancellorsville. 

William  Martain,  reported  hilled  at  Chancellorsville. 

William  C.  McLean,  promoted  Sergeant  Major,  March  27,  1865. 


THE    I  23D    REGIMENT.  213 

Robert  Maxwell,  discharged  with  regiment. 

James  Li.  Moore,  taken  prisoner;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Matthew  Mounegau,  taken  prisoner  at  (July's  Farm;  prisoner  at  Audersonville  De 
cember,  1864;  returned  to  regiment  April.  1805;  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  L.  Marshall,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Robert  Miller,  discharged  with  regiment. 

William   Moore,  promoted  Corporal;  discharged  with  regiment, 

Sylvester  Pratt,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Thomas  Hiland. 

Dennis  Pratt,  discharged  with  regiment. 

George  W.  Parker,  promoted  Corporal;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Chauncey  C.  Parker,  died  at  Stafford  Court  House,  Va.,  February  7,  1863. 

Samuel  Parker,  deserted. 

John  Petteys,  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.  April  17,  18C3. 

William  C.  Qua,  discharged  for  disability,  October  1, 1862. 

Ebenezer  Ross,  discharged  for  disability,  April  23,  1863. 

James  Scrimger,  deserted. 

Andrew  Shaler,  Thos.  B.  Small,  Wm.  J.  Smith,  Chas.  Welch,  discharged  with  reg't. 

John  A.  Stevenson,  Corporal;  promoted  Sergeant;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Sylvester  R.  Warren,  taken  prisoner  at  Chancellorsville;  atLibby;  exchanged;  dis 
charged  svith  regiment 

Henry  Welch,  killed  at  Peace  Tree  Creek. 

George  H.  Wells,  Corporal;  promoted   Sergeant;  wounded   at  Chancellorsville;  dis 
charged  with  regiment. 

Henry  C.  Wood,  Corporal;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Robert  Wilcox,  Sergeant;  promoted  Orderly  Sergeant;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Andrew  Gurney,  enlisted  Sept.  19,  1864,  for  one  year;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Holland  M.  Gamber,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Jonathan  Hatch,  discharged  with  regiment, 

James  Morrissey,  wounded  at  Culp's  Farm;   discharged  with  regiment. 

Edward  McGrath,  enlisted  Sept.  5,  1864,  one  year;  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  Nelson,  en  listed  Sept.  8,  1864,  one  year:  discharged  with  regiment. 

Martin  Sullivan,  enlisted  Sept.  10,  1864,  one  year;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Albert  Lawton,  transferred  to  93d  N.  Y.,  by  reason   of  previous  enlistment   in  that 
regiment. 

George  W.  Orcutt. 

John  E   Palmer;  transferred  to  V.  R   C,  August  11,  1803. 

Philander  Graves,  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.  April  17,  1863. 

Michael  Castello,  transferred  to  V.  R.  C. 

John  S.  Scrimger,  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.  June  15,  1865. 

Dyer  Baldwin,  died  of  small  pox  December  4,  1863. 

James  H.  Ferris. 

William  M.  Herrington,  enlisted  August    -3,  1864;  died  at  Atlanta,  of  typhoid,  Oc 
tober  3,  1864. 

Caleb  Whittaker,  John  Foster. 

James  H.  Clary,  deserted. 

The  following  recruits  were  transferred  to  the  60th  N.  Y. 

Lewis  Bell,  enlisted  February  5,  1865,  one  year. 

Francis  Bartholomew,  enlisted  Feb   6,  1865,  one  year. 

George  Black,  enlisted  Jan.  23,  1865,  3  years. 

Nathan  C.  Crowley,  enlisted  Jan.  10.  1865,  2  years. 

Henry  D   Crofut,  enlisted  March  3,  18G5,  1  year. 

Joseph  Feutou,  enlisted  Feb.  6,  1865,  3  years. 

Charles  Harris,  enlisted  Jan.  6,  1865,  3  years. 

David  I.  Johns,  enlisted  Jan.  13,  1865,  3  y°ars, 

William  Kline,  enlisted  Jan.  12,  1865,  3  years. 

Francis  Leonard,  enlisted  Jan.  12,  1865,  1  year. 

Thomas  Mulligan,  enlisted  Jan.  Q,  1865,  3  years. 


214  REMINISCENCES    OF 


CO.   H— SALEM. 

Salem  sent  out  78  men,  taking  the  8th  position  in  the  Reg 
iment  as  Co.  H,  the  men  receiving  in  bounty  $4,100.  At  a 
special  meeting  held  August  29,  1862,  W.  B.  Bool,  chairman, 
and  Wm.  McFarland,  clerk,  resolutions  were  offered  by  Hon. 
James  Gibson,  and  seconded  by  Hon.  C.  L.  Allen,  and  after 
discussion  were  adopted.  The  Supervisor,  Andrew  Law,  was 
authorized  to  borrow  on  the  credit  of  the  town  $3,500,  the  mon 
ey  to  be  expended  in  raising  volunteers  to  supply  the  deficiency 
of  25  men  in  the  filling  of  the  quota  of  the  town,  paying  boun 
ties  and  expenses  necessary  to  fill  Co.  H  to  the  minimum. 
Meetings  were  also  held  in  1863,  '64  and  '65,  and  all  successive 
calls  were  promptly  filled.  The  town  was  in  advance  of  all  de 
mands  of  the  Government,  and  more  than  met  them,  having 
men  standing  to  its  credit  in  excess  of  quotas  at  the  close  of  the 
war. 

COMMISSIONED     OFFICERS . 

Captain,  John  S.  Crary,  mustered  into  service  September  4,  1862;  commission  bears 
date  August  22,  1862;  resigned  July  28,  1863. 

1st  Lieutenant,  Benjamin  Elliott,  mustered  into  service  September  4,  1862;  commis- 
ion  bears  date  August  22.  1X62;  resigned  February  5,  1863. 

2d  Lieutenant  Josiah  W.  Culver,  mustered  into  service  September  4,  1862;  com 
mission  bears  date  August  22,  1862;  promoted  1st  Lieutenant  February  20,  1863; 
promoted  Captain  October  21,  1863;  on  detached  service  at  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y., 
from  July  25th  to  August  18th,  1864;  discharged  with  regiment 

let  Sergeant  Robert  Cruikshank,  mustered  into  service  September  4,  1862;  promoted 
2d  Lieutenant  February  20,  1863;  promoted  1st  Lieutenant  October  21,  1863;  dis 
charged  with  regiment;  sick  in  Harper's  Ferry  hospital  from  December  15,  .1862, 
to  February  1,  1863;  leave  of  absence  granted  February  1,  1863,  to  March  22,  1863; 
furlough  extended  to  April  2,  1863;  reported  to  company  at  Acquia  Creek  April  1, 
1863;  sick  at  VVarriuuton  Junction  July  23,  186:i;  taken  to  Washington  by  brigade 
surgeon;  leave  of  absence  granted  lor  30  days,  August  14  to  September  13,  1863; 
reported  to  hospital  surgeon,  Washington,  September  12,  1H63;  sent  to  George 
town  hospital  September  12,  1863;  returned  to  duty  September  28,  1863,  at  Bridge 
port,  Ala. 

NON-COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS. 

Sergeant,  II.  B.  Beattie,  promoted  2d  Lieutenant  October  21,  1863;  on  detached  ser 
vice  at  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y.,  from  July  25,  1863,  to  May  15,  1864;  mustered  out 
with  regiment. 

Sergeant  William  H.  Dennison,  wounded  at  Cliancellorsville;  in  hospital;  returned 
to  duty;  dischnrged  with  regiment. 

Sergeant  Daniel  It.  Iloss,  taken  prisoner  at  Gulp's  Farm;  returned  to  duty;  dis 
charged  with  regiment. 

Sergeant  Larned  S.  Amidon,  transferred  from  Co.  E  August  22,  1862;  wounded  at 
Dallas;  discharged  May  19,  1865.  U.  S.  hospital,  near  Troy. 

Corporal  Frank  McFarland   wounded  at  Gulp's  Farm;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Corporal  James  H.  Gowan,  died  at  Harper's  Ferry  December  2,  1862,  of  disease. 

Corporal  James  C.  Gray,  died  March  21,  1865,  ol  disease. 


THE     123!)    REGIMENT.  215 

Corporal  William  H.  Stewait,  wounded  at  Ghancelloreville;  died  of  wounds  received 

as  above,  May  12,  1863. 

Corporal  Garrett  W.  Briggs,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Corporal  William  A.  Creighton,  sick  and  sent  to  hospital  August  19,  1864;  discharged 

irom  Keokuk  hospital,  Iowa,  at  close  of  war. 
Corporal  Frederick  J.   Williamson,   promoted   Sergeant;    sick  Jan.  17,  1865;  died  of 

disease  March  6,  1865,  hospital,  Savannah . 
Corporal  Charles  K.  Sherman,  discharged  with  regiment. 

PKIVATES. 

Wagoner,  John  Hopkins,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Musician,  George  H.  Edie,  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  Allen,  transferred  from  Co.  E,  August  22,  1862;    discharged  with  regiment; 

William  Andrews,  leit  sick  at  Salem;  did  not  report. 

Samuel  Atwood.  discharged  at  1st  division  hospital,  at  close  of  war. 

James  L.  Beattie,  killed  on  picket  line  in  front  of  Atlanta,  August  18,  1864. 

David  Bloweri,  transferred  frcm  Co.  E,  August  22.  1862. 

Milo  H.  Brown,  died  at  London  Valley,  Va.,  November  27.  1862,  of  disease. 

Cnarles  Billings,  died  at  Loudou  Valley  December  13,  1862,  from  disease. 

Patrick  Barnes,  transferred  to  invalid  corp^ 

George  Beebe,  discharged  with  regiment 

John  Barry,  transferred  from  Co.  A.  August  22    1862;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Elijah  Baker,  discharged  for  disability  May  24.  1864. 

Evauder  Burtis,  died  at  Philadelphia,  Pa  ,  September  8,  1862. 

Lewis  D.  Chase,  discharged  with  regiment. 

William  J  Cruiksbauk  promoted  Corporal;  wounded  at  Chancellorsville,  discharged 
March  II,  1864.  on  account  of  wounds. 

Henry  J.  Cleveland,  wounded  at  Dallas  and  Pine  Mountain;  discharged  with  regiment. 

George  M.  Creighton,  discharged  at  hospital,  Chattanooga   Tenii.,  at  close  of  war. 

Thomas  Dickenaon    died  in  field  hospital  at  Atlanta,  Sept.  10,  1864,  from  disease. 

Philip  H.  Danforth,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Martin  F.  Dunlap,  died  in  camp  at  Stafford  Court  House.  Feb.  25,  186H,  of  disease. 

Henry  Dam'orth.  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Cre«k;  died  in  hospital  at  Kingston,  Ga,, 
July  31,  1864. 

Austin  Deuel,  taken  prisoner  at  Gulp's  Farm;  never  heard  from. 

Peter  Donahue,  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  ;•«.  Doig,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Michael  Devine,  transferred  frooi  Co.  A,  August  22,  1862;  deserted  at  Frederick, 
Md.,  October  1,  1862. 

Dauiel  A.  Footer,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Edward  Gleason ,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Levi  H.  Gray,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Edward   Graves,  discharged  April  21    1863. 

Jeremiah  Holbrook,  transferred  fioni  Co.  E.  August  22,  1862;  deserted  at  London 
Valley,  Va.,  Nov.  24,  1862;  returned  May  20.  1864. 

Albert  Hopkins,  discharged  with  regiment 

Silas  Hopkins,  discharged  from  Harper's  Ferry  hospital,  Va..  November  16th,  1803; 
discharged  at  Albany  August  25,  1864. 

Michael  Heudrahan,  deserted  at  Salem  August  23,  1862. 

Jacob  Hover,  missing  while  on  march,  June  27,  1863. 

Newell  L.  Harwood.  discharged  at  hospital,  Baltimore.  Maryland. 

Archibald  Johnson,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  died  of  wounds  May  6,  1863. 

Joseph  Kenrsing,  wounded  at  Gulp's  Farm;  died  in  Confederate  hospital. 

Horace  P.  Mathews,  discharged  with  regiment. 

James  McMurray,  transferred  from  Co.  E,  August  22,  1862;  taken  prisoner  at  Chan 
cellorsville;  never  heard  from. 

Samuel  Mahaffy,  2<i,  promoted  Sergeant;  discharged  with  regiment, 

John  A.  Mairs,  killed  at  Chancellorsville. 

Mitchell  McFarland.  wounded  at  Chancellorsville. 

Peter  McNassar,  killed  at  Gulp's  Farm. 

David  E.  Nelson,  transferred  from  Co.  E,  August  22,  1862;  discharged  April  21,  1863. 

Chester  Orcutt,  transferred  from  Co,  E;  discharged  with  regiment. 

William  J.  Orcutt,  died  at  Elk  River  Bridge,  Tenu.,  of  disease. 

Calvin  J.  Parker,  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  A   Perkins,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville  and  prisoner;  discharged  with  reg't. 

William  Priner,  wounded  at  Resaca;  discharged  with  regiment, 

William  C.  Pattriclge,  left  sick  at  Salem. 


2  I  6  REMINISCENCES    OF 

William  L,  Rich,  killed  at  Chancellorsville. 

Lawrence  M.  Roy,  drum  major;  promoted  2d  Lieutenant;  not  mustered ;  discharged 

with  regiment. 

Theodore  Stover,  transferred  from  Co.  A,  August  22,  1862;    discharged  with  regt. 
John  Schneider,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Charles  A.  Sheppard,  straggled  May  2,  1863. 
Albert  Streeter,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  for  disability,  Camp  Butler 

hospital,  III.,  June  8,  1864. 

George  Sweet,  died  in  camp  at  Stafford  Court  House,  February  4,  1863,  of  disease. 
Henry  G.  Sweet,  died  at  Harper's  Ferry  hospital,  Dec.  26,  1862,  of  disease. 
John  Sweeny,  deserted  at  Salem,  August  20,  1862. 

Orriri  Torrerice,  discharged  from  hospital  at  Louisville,  Ky. ,  at  close  of  war. 
CharleK  E.  Wood,  transferred  from  Co.  E,  Aug.  22    '63;  wounded  at  Chancellorsville. 
Edgar  L.  Wheelock,  discharged  from  hospital  at  Jeffersonville,  Ind.,  at  close  of  war. 
Alexander  H.  Wells,  transferred  to  invalid  corps. 
James  H.  Wright,  discharged  at  hospital,  Baltimore,  Md. 
Edward  D.  Whitney,  discharged  with  regiment. 
William  Warner,  discharged  with  regiment. 
David  H.  Warner,  died  April  26,  1865,  of  disease, 
Richard  West,  missing  fr^na  camp  at  Loudon  Valley,  Dec.  6,  1862;  found  with  throat 

cut  Dec.  13,  1862;  committed  suicide. 

Robert  D.  Nelson,  enlisted  August  31,  1864,  1  year;  discharged  with  regiment. 
John  D.  Rose,  enlisted  Sept.  1,  1864,  1  year. 


CO.  I— CAMBRIDGE  AND  EASTON. 

This  company  was  raised  in  Cambridge  and  south  half  of 
Easton.  These  two  towns  sent  many  of  her  patriotic  sons  to 
the  defence  of  the  Government— 84  men  going  in  the  i23d 
Regiment,  about  27  from  Easton,  and  the  balance  from  Cam 
bridge. 

At  a  special  meeting  held  March  26th,  1864,  a  bounty  of 
$350  was  authorized  to  be  paid  each  volunteer  by  the  ISupervisor. 
At  a  special  meeting  held  June  25th,  1864,  John  L.  Hunt,  John 
H.  Balch  and  Thomas  Shiland  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
fill  the  quota  and  pay  bounties  not  exceeding  $450  each  volun 
teer.  This  was  increased  to  $500  in  August.  A  suitable  mon 
ument  has  been  erected  in  Woodland  Cemetery,  Cambridge,  in 
memory  of  those  of  her  sons  who  fell  in  defence  of  their  country. 

COMMISSIONED      OFFICERS. 

Orrin  S.  Hall,  Captain;  date  of  commission  September  10,  1862;  date  of  rank  August 
2'2,  1862;  discharged  with  regiment;  elected  sheriff  of  Washington  county  in  1871. 

Marcus  Beadle,  1st  Lieutenant;  date  of  commission,  September  10,  1862;  date  of 
rank  August  22,  1862;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Albert  Shiland,  2d  Lieutenant;  date  of  commission  September  10,  1862;  date  of  rank 
August  '22,  1862;  discharged  September  16,  1863. 

David  Rogers.  2d  Lieutenant;  date  of  commission  April  14,  1865;  date  of  rank,  Jan 
uary  12,  1864;  discharged  with  regiment. 


THE     I23D    REGIMENT.     •  217 

NON-COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS   AND    PRIVATES. 

Elias  H..  Aldrich,  promoted  2d  Lieutenant  in  100th  regiment,  U.  S.  C.  1.,  July  1, 1864; 
discharged  with  regiment. 

Frank  L.  Ames,  wounded  near  Pine  Mountain,  Ga.,  June  16,    1864;   discharged  with 
regiment. 

Arthur    W.  Beatty.  discharged  with  regiment. 

James  A.  Bassett,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Joseph  R.  Beadle,  died  in  hospital  at  Acquia  Creek  Landing,  May  23,  1863. 

Horace  Bartlett,  discharged  with  regiment, 

David  H.  Bratt,  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  W.  Bennett,  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps. 

Roswell  K   Bishop,  killed  at  Chancellorsville. 

Charles  H.  Baker,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Hiram  F.  Bentley,  wounded  near  Allatooua,  Ga.  June  2,  1864. 

John  H  Beutley,  discharged  with  regiment. 

George  Clapp 

John  Cobb,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  wounded  near  Pine  Mountain. 

John  Conner,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Clark  Darrow,  Sergeant;  died  in  Savannah,  Ga  ,  January  13,  1865. 

George  L.  Dennis,  Corporal,  taken  prisoner  at  Chaucellorsville,  May  3,  1863. 

Gardner  I.  Dyer,  Corporal,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Charles  H.  Dennis,  received  promotion  in  U.  S.  C.  I.;  May  10,  1864. 

Theodore  A.  Derby,  Leroy  W.  Eldridge,  Geo.  Fairchild,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Nelson  Ferris,  deserted  January  20,  1803,  near  Fairfax  Station,  Va. 

William  G.  Fisher,  Alouzo  Goodwin,  Chas.  C.  Goodman,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Augustus  O.  Gorham,  transferred  to  83d  N.  Y.  V.,  December  3,  1862. 

Rutus   Gal  way,  wounded  at  Chaucellorsville,  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps. 

Alanson  Gifford,  John  Hines,  jr.,  Corporal,  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  Hover,  taken  prisoner  at  Chaucellorsville. 

Thomas  Heunelly,  wounded  and  tasen  prisoner  at  Chancellorsville;    a'so  at   Peach 
Tree  Creek;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Hugh  Hill,  discharged  for  disability  at  Camp  Convalescent,  near  Fort  Bernard,  Va. 

ueorge  Higby,  wouudt  d  at  Peach  Tree  Creek;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Kit-hard  Henuelly,  died  in  hospital  at  Washington,  October  15,  1863. 

UobertO.  W.  Ha^nor,  discharged  for  disability  at  Camp  Convalescent,  Jan.  15,  1863. 

William  Hagerty,  wounded  at  Chaucellorsville;  deserced  while  home  on  leave  of  ab 
sence  from  hospital. 

Anderson  D.  Hover,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Jacob  Hermou,  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Harvey  A.  Hodge,  discharged  ;or  disability,  at  Camp  Convalescent,  Jan.  13,  1863. 

John  Jenkins,  Charles  Jenkins,  John  Kelly,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Edward   K.uopf,  George  Ketcham,  Ira  King,  discharged  with  regiment. 

JODU  Ketcham,  wounded  at  Cham-ellorsville. 

Albert  King,  deserted  at  Salem,  Sept.  5,  '62;  died  in  hospital  at  Louisville,  Sept.  '64, 

William  McCouuell,  discharged  for  disability. 

John  A.  Larmou,  discharged   with   regiment. 

Joseph  B.  Latimer,  William  H.  Link,  James  Luudy,  discharged  with  regiment, 

William  B.  Miller,  discharged  for  disability,  at  Camp  Convalescent,  Jan.  7,  1863. 

John  Miner,  discharged  for  disability  July  24,   1863,  at  U.   S.  A.   General   Hospital, 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Oliver  Miner,  discharged  with  regiment, 

Alonzo  Morehouse,  died  at  London  Valley,  Dec.  5,  1862. 

Patrick  Marley,  deserted  Sept.  8,.  1863 

William  E.  Neil,  taken  piisouer  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment. 

John  ubern,  wounded  near  Dallas. 

James  Oliver,  discharged  for  disability;  wounded  March  23,  1863,  at  Harper's  Fer 
ry;   also  wounded  on  London  Heights. 

Lewis  H.  Phelps,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Joseph  Peeott,  discharged  with  regiment. 

William  H.  Phelps.  died  in  Savannah,  April  1,  1865. 

Geo.  H.  Russell,  John  Skellie,  Corp.,  Chas.  A.  Starbuck,  Corp.,  discharged  with  reg't 

Frederic  A.  Slocum.  Corp.,  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Lemuel  S.  Skinner,  Corporal,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Robert  W.  Skellie,  wounded  at  Chaiicellorsville;  killed  near  Dallas  May  25,  1864. 
Johu  L.  Skellie,  discharged  for  disability  at  Stafford  Court  House,  April  23,  1863. 

William  Skellie,  died  at  Pleasant  Valley,  October  31.  1862. 

Harmon  Shaw,  discharged  for  disability  at  Camp  Convalescent,  April  14, 1863. 


210  REMINISCENCES    OF 

William  J.  Scott,  died  at  Stafford  Court  House,  Va.,  February  2^,  1863. 

James  D.  Sherman,  discharged  for  disability  at  U.  S.  Hospital,  Albany,  Nov.  25,  1863. 

James  S   Springer,  taken  prisoner  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Isaac  Stiles,  Benjamin  F,  Searls,  Charles  H.  Starks,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Lewis  S.  Tripp,  wounded  near  Dallas;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Inman  W.  Thomas,  Dan.  M.  Thompson,  Wm.  C.  VVeatherwax,  discharged  with,  reg't. 

Jesse  P.  Wood,  died  at  Stafford  Court  House,  February  15,  1863. 

Thomas  A.  Weir,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Elihu  G.  Wicks,  discharged  for  disability  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  June  18,  1863. 

John  F.  White,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Josiah  Fletcher,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Peter  H.  Darrow,  discharged  for  disability  at  Camp  Convalescent,  January  10,  1863. 

James  P.  Wicks,  wounded  at  Chancellorsville. 

KECRUITS. 

John  Jenkins,  Sr.,  enlisted  January  19,  1864,  for  3  years;  discharged. 
George  Burdick,  enlisted  December  29,  1863,  for  3  years;  discharged. 
Gardner  C.  Bentley,  enlisted  December  29.  1863,  for  three  years;  discharged. 
Charles  W.  Hodge,  enlisted  Dec.  24,  1863,  for  3  years;  discharged. 
Alnion  Robinson,  enlisted  March  22,  1864,  for  3  years;  discharged. 
William  Robinson,  enlisted  March  22,  1864,  for  3  years;  discharged. 
John  Cozzeus,  enlisted  Feb.  22.  1864,  for  3  years;  discharged. 
William  Stevenson,  enlisted  February  12.   1864,  for  3  years:  discharged. 
Henry  Chapman,  enlisted  April  5,  1864.  for  3  jears;  killed  at  Peach  Tree  Creek. 
Charles  Corey,   enlisted  Feb.  1864.  for  3  years;  discharged. 
James  W.  Platt,  enlisted  March  25,  1864,  for  3  years;  discharged. 
Dennis  Hall,  enlisted  Feb.  29,  1S64,  for  3  years;  discharged, 

Willi  irn  Spanable,  enlisted  July  15,  1864,  for  three  years;  deserted  between  Parkers- 
burg  and  Martiusburg,  Va.,  Sept.  8.  1864,  while  on  his  way  to  join  his  command. 
Michael  Hillis,  enlisted  September  5,  1864,  for  one  year;  discharged. 
Frederick  Bruns,  enlisted  September  14,  1864,  for  1  year;  discharged. 
Halet  Burdick,  enlisted  December  24,  1863,  for  3  years';  discharged. 
Isaac  Barrett,  enlisted  February  29,  1864,  for  3  years;  discharged. 


CO.  K— GRANVILLE  AND  HAMPTON. 

Granville  was  thoroughly  awake,  and  put  forth  every  effort  to 
furnish  her  quota,  under  the  call  for  troops.  August  8th,  1862, 
a  meeting  of  the  citizens  was  held  at  the  house  of  R.  D.  Wing. 
Rev.  S.  Haynes  was  made  chairman  and  A.  S.  Burdick,  sec 
retary.  Resolutions  were  adopted,  authorizing  the  Supervisor 
to  borrow  $5,200,  to  be  used  for  the  procuring  of  men;  $100 
to  be  paid  to  each  soldier  enlisted  to  the  credit  of  the  town. 
This  was  before  the  state  had  passed  any  law  legalizing  such  ap 
propriation.  To  secure  the  matter  beyond  all  question,  the 
money  was  raised  by  the  Supervisor  executing  a  note  for  the 
amount,  and  then  116  citizens  signed  an  agreement  indemnify 
ing  and  protecting  the  Supervisor  against  loss. 

December  12,  1863,  another  meeting  was  held,  at  which  Rev. 
Mr.  Haynes  again  acted  as  chairman.  The  meeting  approved 
the  action  of  the  Supervisor  in  raising  money  to  provide  for  a 


THE    I  2 3D    REGIMENT.  219 

bounty  of  $200  to  each  soldier.  At  other  meetings,  held  in 
1864,  prompt  action  was  taken  to  fill  the  quota  of  the  town. 
The  bounty  was  raised  to  $350,  and  finally  to  $1,000.  In  Jan 
uary,  1865,  the  town  was  found  to  have  a  surplus  of  men,  and 
the  people  of  Granville  did  nobly  in  caring  for  the  families  of 
soldiers  who  were  away  fighting  the  battles.  Granville  and 
Hampton  sent  94  men  out  with  the  I23d  Regiment,  and  took 
position  on  the  left  as  Co.  K. 

COMMISSIONED     OFFICERS . 

Henry  O.  Wiley,  Captain.     Date  of  commission,  September  10,   1862;  date   of  rank, 

August.  22,  1862;  killed  at  Peach  Tree  Creek. 
Hiram  O.  Warren,  1st  Lieutenant.     Date  of  commission,  Sept.  10,  1862;  date  of  rank 

August  22,  1862;  promoted  Captain  Co.  C  March  15,  1865;  discharged  with  regiment. 
George  W.  Baker,  2d   Lieutenant.     Date  of  commission,  September  10.  1862;  date  of 

rank  August  v!2,  1862;  promoted  1st  Lieutenant  March  15,  1863;  promoted  Captain 

September  23.  1864;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Jud.sou  H.  Austin,  Sergeant;  promoted  2d  Lieutenant;  date  of  commission,  January 

27,  1865;  date  of  rank  January  12,  1865;  discharged  with  regiment, 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS   AND   PRIVATES. 

Henry  E.  Allen,  promoted  Corporal;  discharged  with  regiment. 

William  C.  Allard,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  .February  28,  1863. 

Joseph  S.  Blossom,  discharged  with  regiment. 

David  H.  Barker,  minor;  not  mustered  in. 

Nathaniel  Bedell,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Visti  Boudevin,  died  in  hospital  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

Martin  V.  B.  Butler,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Leroy  L.  Barnard,  Corporal;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Martin  Bowker,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Charles  D.  Cowan,  wounded  at  Resaca;  promoted   Corporal,  Sergeant  and  Orderly 

Sergeant;  discharged  with  regiment. 
George  H.   Cowan,   taken   prisoner  at  Chancellorsville;  paroled;  detailed  Clerk  at 

brigade  headquarters;  discharged  with   regiment. 
Richard  Costillo,  Frauklin  Cook,   discharged  with  regiment. 
Daniel  S.  Carmody,  died  at  Stafford  Court  House,  March,  1863. 
Altadore  Cook,  discharged  for  disability. 

Lorenzo  R.  Coy,  promoted  Sergeant;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Horace  Dowd,  wounded  at  Gulp's  Farm;  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 
Michael  Douohoe.  Corporal;  promoted  Sergeant;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Albert  W.  Doaue,  died  of  wounds  at  Chancellorsville;  one  leg  shot  off.     When  struck 

lie  exclamed.    "  Boys  the  devils  have  hit  me;  but  give  them   fits!"     When   last 

seen  he  was  winding  a  gun  strop  around  the  stump   of  the   limb,  and  twisting  it 

with  a  bayonet  to  stop  the  blood. 
Thomas  Donohoe,  wounded;  lost  use  of  arm  at  Peach  Tree  Creek;  discharged  with 

regiment. 
Edward  Dushon,  discharged  for  disability;  re-enlisted  December  1863,  in  I6th  Artil- 

lt-ry;  discharged  in  1865. 
James  K.  Ford,  discharged  for  disability. 
Titus  E.  Grillmau,  discharged  with  regiment. 
James  <iordou.  died  at  Harper's  Ferry  in  1863, 
Chamioey  S.  Guilford,  promoted  Corporal;  one  of  the  color  guard  at  Peach  Tree 

Creek  and  wounded  there;  discharged  with  regiment. 

David  J.  Humphrey,  wounded  at  Chaucellorsville;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Noah  S.  Hill,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Andrew  Harris,  promoted  Corporal;  discharged  with  regiment. 
William  K.  Hills,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Horace  E.  Howard,  promoted  Orderly  Sergeant;  wounded  at   Chancellorsville,  and 

died  from  effects  of  wounds  at  Acquia  Creek  Hospital. 
Ralph  E.  Hayes,  died  of  diphtheria  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va. 
Morris  Harris,  detailed  to  Ambulance  Corps;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Fayette  Hale,  Orderly  Sergeant;  wounded  at  Gulp's  Farm;  discharged  with  regim't. 
George  Heath,  wounded;  discharged  with  regiment. 


220  REMINISCENCES    OF 

James  Harris,  discharged  with  regiment. 

Thomas  B.  Huntington,  discharged  for  disability,  February,  1863. 

Michael  Hayes,  musician;  deserted  at  Stafford  Court  House. 

Merrick  H.  Knapp,  promoted  Corporal:  a  shell  struck  his  knapsack   at   Chancellors- 

ville,  knocking  him  down;  discharged  with  regiment. 
John  Lahue,  two  years  with  regiment;  transferred  to  Navy,  on  board  U   S.  Steamer 

"Winnebago":  discharged. 

Thomas  J.  License,  James  Murphy,  John  Murphy,  discharged  with  regiment. 
John  McCoy,  wounded  at  Chnuc<-llorsville;  discharged. 
Henry  Moshier,  wounded  on  picket  at  Stafford  Court  House;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.; 

discharged  at  Baltimore. 
Francis  Mow,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Abel  F.  Mounts,  disabled;   discharged. 
William  Mitchell,  discharged  with  regiment. 

William  Norton,  lost  an  arm  at  Gettysburg;  discharged  at  Baltimore. 
George  Osborne,  wounded  at  Resaca;  died  of  disease  in  North  Carolina. 
Lawrence  Ostrauder,  promoted  Corporal;  wounded  at  Chancellorsville;    discharged 

with  regiment. 

Adolphus  C.  Ormsby,  killed  on  picket  at  Atlanta,  August  8,  1864. 
Amos  C.  Potter,  wounded  at  Resaca;  discharged  with  regiment. 

Htacy  R.  Potter,  detailed  clerk  at  Brigade  headquarters;   discharged  with  regiment. 
Philip  Potter,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Benjamin  F.  Pitts,  wounded;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Samuel  A.  Potter,  discharged  with  regiment. 
John  Pitts,  killed  at  Resaca,  Ga. 
Russell  B.  Pitts   discharged. 

Uzille  Pillenir,  detailed  to  Ambulance  Corps;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Edward  B.  Rasey,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Barzilla  Roquay,  wounded;  discharged. 
Edward  Rich,  injured  by  tailing  from  the  cars;  discharged. 
William  Reardon,  died  at  Hilton  Head,  in  October,  1864. 
Walter  Smith,  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Samuel  Stiles,  discharged  with  regiment. 
John  Sherman,  wounded;  discharged. 
Mllo  Shaw,  supposed  killed  at  Chancellorsville. 

Edward  Tanuer,  wounded  at  Chaucellorsville,  and  died  on  the  field. 
N.  G   Thayer,  killed  at  Gettysburg. 

Warren  Thompson,  musician;  discharged  with  regiment. 
Frederick  Van  Guilder,  served  nine  months;  omitted  irom   muster  rolls;    not   paid; 

left  regiment  and  enlisted  in  a  Vermont  regiment. 
John  R.  Williams,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Philander  Whitney,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Clarke  H.  Wait,  died  of   disease  at  Jeffersouville,  Indiana. 
Benjamin  F.  Wright,  supposed  died  in  hospital  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 
Isaiah  Wright,  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps. 
Henry  Welch,  promoted  Corporal;  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek;  discharged  April 

21,  1865. 
Fayette  Wilbur,  wounded  and  prisoner    at   Chancellorsville;  paroled;  discharged  at 

Washington,  D,  C. 

Ellis  Williams,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Samuel  Wright,  wounded;  discharged. 
Jarnes  A.  Wright,  wounded  at  Culp's  Farm. 
William  R.  Williams,  home  on  sick  leave;  did  not  return. 
Thomas  Walker,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Edmund  Warner,  deserted  near  Dumfries. 
Henry  Wilkins,  wounded  at  Resaca;  discharged  with  regiment;  resides  at  Calumet, 

Michigan 

Cassius  J.  Waite.  accidentally  wounded;  discharged. 
James  H   Wright,  in  hospital  fourteen  months;  discharged  June,  1865. 
Benjamin  F.  Waite,  discharged  with  regiment. 
Peter  M.  Willis,  discharged  for  disability,  May  20,  1863. 
Edwin  Willis,  discharged  for  disability,  April  24,  1863, 
Charles  C.  Wescott,  discharged  for  disability  March,  1863. 
William  Waters,  enlisted  March  25,  1864;  killed  at  Resaca. 
Eugene  Wilson,  enlisted  March  25,  1864;  discharged  July  17.  1865. 
iienjainin  F.  Wyman,  Philip  Washburne,  William  S.  Hendley,  Andrew  Haley,  Joseph 

Dickenson,  U.  Balermo,  Jonathan  W.  Potter,  John  Ryan,  J.  W.  Rasey.  Daniel  Flood. 


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